Alex Inague, Ph.D.
- Title
- Postdoctoral fellow
- Institution
- University of California, Berkeley
- Address
- 1951 Oxford St., Room 385
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://www.olzmannlab.com/
- Research field
- Cell and molecular biology
- Award year
- 2025
Research
In the Olzmann lab, I will investigate the molecular pathways involved in selenium metabolism and evaluate their potential as therapeutic targets in cancer. Selenium is an essential micronutrient required for the synthesis of selenoproteins, which possess antioxidant properties critical for maintaining the integrity of proteins and lipids. Recent work in the Olzmann lab identified a selenium receptor that confers resistance to ferroptosis—a regulated, iron-dependent form of cell death—thereby promoting the survival of certain cancer cells. Building on this discovery, I will use advanced cell and molecular biology techniques, including genome editing, to identify the networks controlling selenium utilization in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells. I will examine how disrupting these regulators influences cancer cell survival and assess the therapeutic efficacy of degrading key components of selenium metabolism in preclinical neuroblastoma models. This research aims to uncover novel vulnerabilities in a highly aggressive pediatric cancer and could inform the development of innovative, targeted therapies where current treatment options are limited.
Mentor
- James Olzmann, Ph.D.
Country of Origin
- Brazil