Principal Investigator: Norma Ybarra, MVZ, PhD
Radiotherapy (RT) is a very important treatment modality for several cancer types and contributes to around 40% of the curative treatment, but unfortunately it also causes side effects. The overall goal of my research program is to improve RT efficacy by using compounds that target the metabolic dependencies of cancer cells, while protecting normal cells from RT-induced side effects. I am also interested in the role of lifestyle in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, and how lifestyle choices impact the response to cancer therapies in adult cancer patients.
Projects:
1. Radiosensitization of cancer cells.
2. Alternative therapies to reduce radiotherapy side effects.
3. Radiation effects on the metabolism of cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.