Annual Summit on Cell Signaling and Cancer Therapy September 27-28, 2017
(10 Plenary Forums - 1Event)
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Dr. Charles F. Streckfus is a Professor of Diagnostic & Biomedical Sciences at the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and has many published abstracts and presentations. His honors and awards include the President's Award for Scientific Excellence, Presented by the International Society for Preventive Oncology, 6th International Symposium Predictive Oncology Intervention Strategies, Pasteur Institute, Paris France, February 12, 2002 for his discovery of salivary Her2/neu as a biomarker for breast cancer. This discovery has led to Dr. Streckfus' current work at the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston into establishing an array of protein biomarkers in saliva for breast and other related cancers. His most recent publication in the February 2008 edition of Cancer Investigations concerning his research has received notice worldwide, and has established Dr. Streckfus as a leader in cancer modelling and biomarker research.

Dr. Charles research interests involve Breast cancer related proteins are present in saliva and are modulated secondary to ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast and Method of Diagnosing and Monitoring Breast Carcinomas.

Dr. Wilson is a Director, New Mexico Center for Spatiotemporal Modeling of Cell Signaling Health Sciences Center. She is also a Professor, Department of Pathology, The University of New Mexico.

Dr. Wilson’s recombinant hypoallergens technology uses state-of-the art imaging and an improved computational process for measuring how allergens crosslink and activate human receptors. She has produced high-resolution imaging techniques showing the structure, migration and redistribution of a specific receptor on the membranes of mast cells and basophils that release histamine and other inflammatory mediators in reaction to an allergen. This novel way of analyzing allergen structures will enable the team to re-engineer allergens, with the goal of creating new versions that can be used as safer immunotherapies without causing an allergic reaction when administered. Currently, there is a wealth of information about allergen structure but scant information is available about how these structural features trigger receptors on mast cells and basophils. Further research and testing in these areas could be beneficial in discovering new treatment methods that are safer and more effective for treating allergens.

Dr. Girish Shah is a member of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is a Endowed Chair and Professor of department of BPS in School of Pharmacy.

The role of calcitonin in the progression of prostate carcinoma with the aim of development of new therapeutic approaches. Studies directed toward understanding the role of pituitary calcitonin in the development of the pituitary gland as well as in the process of overall growth and development.

Dr. Sherine Elsawa is a member of Department of Biological Science. She is currently working in Northern Illinois University. She has completed Ph.D. in 2003 from University of North Carolina, Charoltte, NC.

The long-term goal of our research group is to improve the treatment of cancer patients through the understanding of cytokine signaling in the tumor microenvironment. Our group is studying the tumor microenvironment using the bone marrow microenvironment as a model. We have identified cytokines that are dysregulated in lymphoma patients and their impact on the biology of these malignancies. Using a combination of in vitro/in vivo genetic and pharmacological models, we have shown a define signaling that uses GLI transcription factors, effectors of the Hedgehog pathway, as mediators of the crosstalk between the cytokines such as CCL5 (RANTES) and IL-6 in the tumor microenvironment. Ongoing projects in our group focus on the following topics like New signaling molecules affecting the tumor-microenvironment, Cytokine interaction in the tumor microenvironment, Development of in vivo models to study the tumor microenvironment.

Dr. Sherine Elsawa is a member of Department of Biological Science. She is currently working in Northern Illinois University. She has completed Ph.D. in 2003 from University of North Carolina, Charoltte, NC.

The long-term goal of our research group is to improve the treatment of cancer patients through the understanding of cytokine signaling in the tumor microenvironment. Our group is studying the tumor microenvironment using the bone marrow microenvironment as a model. We have identified cytokines that are dysregulated in lymphoma patients and their impact on the biology of these malignancies. Using a combination of in vitro/in vivo genetic and pharmacological models, we have shown a define signaling that uses GLI transcription factors, effectors of the Hedgehog pathway, as mediators of the crosstalk between the cytokines such as CCL5 (RANTES) and IL-6 in the tumor microenvironment. Ongoing projects in our group focus on the following topics like New signaling molecules affecting the tumor-microenvironment, Cytokine interaction in the tumor microenvironment, Development of in vivo models to study the tumor microenvironment.

Dr. Luo is a member of the Divisions of Experimental Pathology, Molecular and Cellular Pathology and Anatomic Molecular Pathology. He is the Director of the High Throughput Genome Center at the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, involving collaboration of faculties from multiple departments.

Currently, Dr. Luo's research interests involve identifying new tumor suppressor genes and tumor markers in several human malignancies such as prostate cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. Subsequently, we will direct our effort to evaluate the prognostic values of these genes and markers in making early diagnosis of prostate cancer and serving as drug targets for cancer prevention programs.

She is currently Professor of Biomedical Science and Established Chair.

cancer, oxygen radicals, human biomonitoring, unbalanced precursor pools, dietary imbalance, male-mediated developmental defects, nanotoxicology, general toxicology

Dr. Jindan Yu is a member of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. She is currently working in Northwestern University as a Associate Professor in Medicine Department.

Integrative genomic approaches to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression and to identify novel targets or disease pathways for therapeutic intervention.

Dr. Hari K Koul, is the Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Carroll W. Feist Endowed Chair in cancer, LSU School of Medicine -Shreveport. He also serves as Director of Basic and Translational Research at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Sciences Center - Shreveport.

He is specifically interested in two interrelated drivers of tumor progression: 1) Role of Red-Ox signaling and accompanying pathways in tumor progression and metastasis; and 2) Role of transcriptional reprogramming as driver of tumor progression and metastasis. Along these areas, we have four ongoing studies: Project one is aimed at evaluating the role of NOX4 activation in tumor progression via transcriptional reprograming in cancer cells with special emphasis on epigenetic regulation; Project two is aimed at evaluating the role of Unfolded Protein Response in tumor progression and metastasis and leveraging unresolved UPR as therapeutic strategy in cancer; Project three is aimed at understanding the regulatory mechanism and functional consequences of alterations in expression of putative metastasis suppressor SPDEF in prostate cancer; and, Project four is aimed at deciphering transcriptional reprograming in prostate cancer progression and metastasis with special emphasis on Androgen Receptor signaling and transcription factor abundance. Data from these four projects feeds our fifth project aimed at development of small molecules for targeted therapy of solid tumors. Another area of my research is to understand the mechanism/s that drive oxalate and calcium oxalate crystal induced chronic inflammatory process/es and dysfunction of renal epithelial cells, with a long-term objective to identify actionable targets to prevent oxalate nephropathy, kidney stone disease and end stage renal disease.

Dr. Girish Shah is a member of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is a Endowed Chair and Professor of department of BPS in School of Pharmacy.

The role of calcitonin in the progression of prostate carcinoma with the aim of development of new therapeutic approaches. Studies directed toward understanding the role of pituitary calcitonin in the development of the pituitary gland as well as in the process of overall growth and development.

She is a member of Department of Biology and Biochemistry. She is working as a Professor of Biology and Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering.

Interdisciplinary areas of Chemistry and Biology. Areas of research focus include Chemistry for parallel synthesis of biopolymers on high density microfluidic biochips; Biopchip applications in genomics and proteomics; Synthetic biology method development; Biomolecular NMR spectroscopy for structure elucidation of nucleic acids, proteins, and their complexes with ligand molecules; Database for accelerating protein NMR spectral interpretation.

George G Chen is a professor in the Department of Surgery, Director of Surgical Research Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, China.

He has extensive experience in cancer research. He has authored or co-authored more than 190 papers and has written a number of books or book chapters.

Dr. Punita Dhawan is a member of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She is currently working as an Associate Professor.

To understand the mechanism of colon cancer progression and metastasis. Our current goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in tight junction/s mediated regulation of colon cancer progression. To understand the cross talk of Notch and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and their effect on potential therapeutic options to inhibit claudin-1 deregulation in colon cancer. To understand the mechanism of regulation of cell-cell and matrix interaction in colonic homeostasis. Develop therapeutic strategies to Treat/prevent Colon Cancer using small molecular inhibitor and natural compounds. To understand the role of tight junction protein in triple negative breast cancer.

Zhi Sheng is an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, where his research focuses on developing new therapies for glioblastoma, a lethal and incurable brain cancer. Sheng is also an assistant professor of biomedical sciences and pathobiology in the Virginia–Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

The overarching research goal of the Dr. Zhi Sheng’s laboratory at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute is to develop new and effective cancer therapies using the following strategies and approaches: (1) Identify new and effective cancer therapeutic targets by dissecting molecular pathways that orchestrate the cell survival and/or death; and (2) Overcome drug resistance in cancer.