Jianning Tao, Ph.D., and his lab of researchers at Sanford Research recently received a nearly $2.5 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health.
The five-year grant supports Dr. Tao’s research to investigate two key genetic pathways known to influence tumor development: p53 and NOTCH. The project will better understand how these two pathways impact the origin and development of osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer often developing in teenagers and young adults.
The p53 pathway is often referred to as the “guardian of the genome” due to its crucial role in preventing cells from becoming cancerous. When mutations occur in the p53 gene, this protective mechanism can fail – allowing abnormal cells to multiply and form tumors.
The NOTCH protein plays a vital role in controlling how cells communicate with each other to regulate growth, differentiation and tissue development. Mutations in these pathways can contribute to rapid tumor cell reproduction and resistance to certain therapies.
Dr. Tao’s research will better understand how both p53 and NOTCH pathways interact in skeletal diseases, like osteosarcoma. By understanding these interactions, the research aims to identify new opportunities for more effective treatment options.
“I’ve spent the past two decades researching various skeletal diseases, including osteosarcoma,” said Dr. Tao, assistant scientist and manager of the Tao Lab at Sanford Research. “This grant allows our lab to enhance our research to better understand how p53 and NOTCH work together. We hope to uncover new ways to disrupt tumor growth to help young patients living with this rare bone cancer and other skeletal diseases.”
Dr. Tao’s lab’s main focus and goal is to dissect molecular mechanisms underlying NOTCH-related skeletal diseases. The lab hopes to provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of skeletal diseases, explore regulatory and biochemical mechanisms, and open new opportunities for effective treatments of the diseases.
Dr. Tao received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Tennessee.
Learn more
- NIH grants $6.2M for cancer studies at Sanford Research
- Sanford and NIH raise awareness on the cost of rare diseases
- Blood and bone marrow transplant care at Sanford
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Posted In Cancer, Cancer Treatments, News, Research
