Investigators

Summary

My research interests include:

1. Immune-oncology and immune microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
2. Role of scaffold proteins (e.g., IQGAP1) in liver disease and regeneration.
3. Developing a more accurate model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma that efficiently replicates the human disease.

My overall goal is to challenge the unmet need of effective targeted therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) by studying the immune landscape to develop personalized immunotherapies for HCC. Additionally, it is my goal to develop a model of HCC that better represents the human disease such that novel therapeutic strategies are easily translated into patients. Finally, to tie these goals together, I aim to better understand the molecular mechanisms that contribute to hepatocellular carcinogenesis. For example, I plan to continue studying IQGAP1, a scaffold protein, and its role in hepatocellular biology. Investigating protein-protein interactions regulated by IQGAP1 will expand the current knowledge of HCC and position me as an independent investigator focusing HCC biology and therapeutics.