Seshiru Nakazawa, MD, PhD, (Seshiru_Nakazawa@dfci.harvard.edu) is studying the mechanisms of MET dysregulation and small cell transformation based on patient-derived models and clinical data. He also aims to modulate metabolic pathways to overcome treatment resistance to current molecular-targeted therapies.
Marie-Anais Locquet, PhD, (Marie-anais_Locquet@dfci.harvard.edu) focuses on preventing and reverting acquired resistance to EGFR-targeting therapies in NSCLC. She is working on therapeutic strategies to directly degrade EGFR by the ubiquitin proteasome pathway, as well as identifying potentially targetable vulnerabilities in EGFR-TKI resistant cells. Marie also develops in vitro 3D models of NSCLC from both patients samples and PDX.
Sean Lenahan, PhD (Sean_Lenahan@dfci.harvard.edu) is focused on characterizing the role of individual TEAD isoforms on promoting a drug tolerant persister state in EGFR-mutant lung cancers to better inform drug development. Additionally, Sean aims to use single-cell multi-omics to further elucidate how tumor cell heterogeneity can impact resistance to targeted therapies in EGFR- and KRAS-mutant lung cancers.
Marika Koivu, PhD (Marika_Koivu@dfci.harvard.edu) studies the mechanisms of acquired and intrinsic resistance in lung cancers driven by various oncogenic drivers, focusing on combination therapies involving targeted treatments and TEAD inhibition. Identification of potential targetable vulnerabilities may inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In addition, she is involved with the development of in vitro 3D models of lung cancer.
Antja-Voy Hartley, PhD (Antja-Voy_Hartley@dfci.harvard.edu) focuses on designing rational and novel combination treatments to overcome resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies in EGFR-mutant lung cancers. Additionally, she explores options for targeted therapies for the treatment of mesotheliomas by linking the tumors’ genomic landscape to potential therapeutic vulnerabilities.
Francesco Facchinetti, MD, PhD (Francesco_Facchinetti@dfci.harvard.edu) studies features and liabilities of drug tolerant persister (DTP) cells in the setting of lung cancers driven by EGFR mutations and other oncogenic drivers. In addition, Francesco works on novel therapies acting as EGFR degraders.