Jovanka Gencel-Augusto, Ph.D.

Research

In the Grandis lab, I will determine alternative strategies to activate the function of the anti-cancer protective protein, p53, which is oftentimes deactivated in many cancers. P53 is termed a “tumor suppressor” for its role in preventing tumor growth. It achieves this by initiating various molecular safeguards that either turn off cellular programs that promote cell division or maintain the balance of cell turnover. The deactivation of this protein is the most common genetic alteration in 70% of patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Despite its prevalence, there are no effective therapies to address this. The Grandis lab has developed preclinical models that allow me to study p53 deactivation in head and neck cancers. Using sophisticated methods in cell and molecular biology, gene editing, and bioinformatics, I will identify and characterize alternative genes and pathways that mirror the activity of p53 to leverage the potential for new therapeutic avenues. Doing so will uncover new cancer biology that can not only increase the understanding behind this unique protein, but also apply these novel findings to other types of cancers where p53 is compromised.