Maria Ruggieri, PhD Lab Director (516) 562-9489 mruggier@nshs.edu

The laboratory focuses on elucidating signaling mechanisms that are involved in glioblastoma invasion and in the response to ionizing radiation. Brain tumor dispersal is a critical problem in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. In particular, Dr. Ruggieri and her colleagues study the role of the stress activated protein kinase MRK in stimulating invasiveness of glioblastoma (brain cancer) cells and in protecting tumor cells from the killing effects of radiation therapy. Recent findings in the lab indicate that MRK also mediates radiation-induced invasion of tumor cells. Therefore, the lab is interested in establishing whether MRK represents a good molecular target for therapeutic intervention in glioblastoma. Also, understanding the mechanisms that underlie the invasive capacity of tumor cells is essential to begin to identify new therapeutic approaches to improve clinical care of this lethal disease.

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Lab Members:

Name:   Vanan Issai, MD
Position:   Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research:   Studies the role of MRK in tumor cell invasion stimulated by ionizing radiation.
E-mail:   ivanan@nshs.edu

Name:   Zhiwan Dong, MD
Position:   Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research:   Studies mechanisms underlying the invasive capacity of brain tumor cells. In particular, he is investigating how the protein kinase MRK and the Rho proteins regulate the actin cytoskeleton during tumor invasion.
E-mail:   zdong@nshs.edu