Center for Cell Reprogramming Seminar Series Featuring Michael M. Shen, PhD
The Center for Cell Reprogramming Seminar Series brings outstanding scientists to Georgetown to present their latest research findings and meet with faculty members.
Speaker: Michael M. Shen, PhD
Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Genetics & Development
Professor of Medical Science and Genetics and Development
Columbia University
Talk Title: “Investigating Lineage Plasticity Using Patient-derived Organoid Models of Bladder Cancer”
Dr. Shen’s lab has investigated fundamental mechanisms of mammalian development and cancer using in vivo analyses of genetically-engineered mouse models. His group pursued functional analyses of EGF-CFC co-receptors for the TGF-beta ligand Nodal, and elucidated their essential roles in establishing the mammalian body plan. Since moving to Columbia University, his interests have expanded to encompass studies of the hormonal regulation of prostate development and cancer, including analyses of the Nkx3.1 transcriptional regulator and pathways of epithelial lineage specification, which have identified luminal epithelial progenitors and showed that luminal cells are favored as the cell of origin for prostate cancer.
More recently, his lab has generated novel culture conditions for mouse and human prostate and bladder organoids, which led to creation of a biobank of patient-derived bladder tumor organoids. Current work in the lab focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms of cell type differentiation in the normal as well as transformed prostate epithelium, the epigenetic regulation of lineage plasticity in both bladder and prostate cancer, and the role of the tumor microenvironment in modulating treatment response.
Presented by The Center for Cell Reprogramming