Fei-Fei Liu

Research Synopsis

• Novel molecular therapies & HTS: With the discovery of UROD as a novel radiosensitizing target, our lab is now expending a significant effort in trying to develop a small molecule inhibitor of this enzyme. This work is supported by a CIHR Proof-of-Principle grant, in collaboration with a porphyrin chemist based at the University of Texas – Austin. Other “hits” identified from the original screen are also currently undergoing secondary validation for future explorations.
• Molecular Predictors of Breast, Cervix, and Head & Neck Cancers: We are currently determining the biological mechanisms underpinning the differential clinical outcome between HPV-positive vs. HPV-negative oropharyngeal CAs (OPC). We are also conducting global micro-RNA (miR) profilings on human cervix, and nasopharyngeal carcinomas to both identify potential predictive signatures, and also to better understand mechanisms of cancer progression.