Research summary
Dr. Leonardo Salmena, Canada Reseach Chair in Signal Transduction and Gene Regulation in Cancer, is studying cell signaling to better understand the molecular basis of cancer. Signals transmitted from outside a cell send messages sparking biochemical reactions inside the cell. Salmena and his research team are focusing on how these signals are transmitted, and what happens when the messaging goes awry.
Salmena’s research program aims to identify novel vulnerabilities in cancer, including fatal leukemia and pancreatic cancer, that can be targeted with existing or new drugs. Better understanding the molecular basis of these cancers may lead to better prevention and treatment strategies.