Vaishnavi Laboratory
Aria Vaishnavi, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
- Departments, Labs and Institutes
- Labs
- Vaishnavi Laboratory
Areas of Research
- Lung Cancer
- Genetics
- Targeted Therapy
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Radiation Oncology
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
Welcome to the Vaishnavi Laboratory at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Lab's Broad Research Focus Areas:
- The molecular mechanisms driving lung cancer initiation, maintenance, progression and response to targeted therapies.
- Understanding the different ways that normal receptor tyrosine kinase signaling can support or modify dominant oncogenic programs at different stages of lung cancer, response to targeted therapeutic agents, or minimal residual disease.
- Establishing and characterizing novel models of BRAF mutant cancers to identify rational and potent therapeutic strategies.
- Elucidating the precise molecular, cellular, and genetic changes that occur in the lung epithelium following chronic exposure to radon [Rn] gas.
The Vaishnavi lab uses mouse and human genetics to unravel the molecular basis of lung cancer at key disease stages including initiation and progression. We strive to translate those results to improve therapeutic approaches in patients. An overarching theme in the Vaishnavi lab is understanding the different mechanisms of how normal RTKs can support and modify dominant oncogenes. Here, we seek to understand the contributions from normal RTKs, especially the ERBB family at different stages of lung cancer, as well as therapeutic responses and minimal residual disease. Additionally, the Vaishnavi lab is establishing models and tools to investigate the foundational molecular mechanisms that underlie lung cancer in never-smokers, and the role(s) of different environmental exposures in contributing to those programs.