Chris Prevost, also a graduate student in the Kashatus Lab, studies how cancer cell stress influences lipid droplet dynamics and how these lipid droplets originating due to the cell stress response impact the pathophysiology of cancer. Lipid droplets are part of an emerging field in cancer biology and it has been observed that dysregulated lipid droplets can promote tumor progression. Starting with a molecular approach, his project will be exploring how the transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) regulates lipid droplets and the impacts these lipid droplets have in cancer biology. The activity of NRF2 is found to be promoted in many cancers as it is a crucial regulator of cellular response to oxidative stress. Together, his project aims to determine how NRF2 and lipid droplets contribute to the pathophysiology of cancers in the harsh tumor microenvironment.
Chris Prevost is the 2nd MIC student to receive a grant from the Cancer Center!
August 31, 2023 by rmm5m@virginia.edu