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Hello
We Challenge. We Innovate. We Advance the Biology of Radiation Oncology.
Featured Puplications
Some of our recent pulication highlights.
Our Laboratory
Working at the Cutting Edge
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A Leader in Radiobiolgy
About Us
Our laboratory has a long-standing interest in signal transduction and the role of the 26S proteasome in cancer. We were among the first working with prospectively identified cancer stem cells and since then we have made seminal discoveries including the intrinsic radioresistance of breast cancer stem cells and its underlying mechanisms, developed innovative new techniques to image, track and target cancer stem cells in vitro and in vivo and uncovered fundamental differences in the metabolic state of cancer stem cells and their progeny.
We discover mechanism of action for radiation mitigating agents in normal stem cells of the central nerveous system and the gut and develop novel chemoradiation pardigms that will leap Radiation Oncology forward.
Our Team
We are diverse team of researchers with a great passion for good science.
pajonk@ucla.edu
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Frank Pajonk, MD/PhD
Professor
KBhat@mednet.ucla.edu
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Kruttika N. Bhat, Ph.D.
Postdoc
sduhachek@mednet.ucla.edu
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Sara Duhachek Muggy, Ph.D.
Postdoc
calli@mednet.ucla.edu
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Claudia Alli
Ph.D.
Lab Manager
momsaki@gmail.com
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Mohamad Saki, Ph.D.
postdoc
iracheng@gmail.com@gmail.com
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Fei Cheng, Ph.D.
Volunteer
paulmedina@ucla.edu
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Paul Medina
Lab Assistant
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Sidney Dong
Undergraduate Student
Our Research
We perform interdisciplinary translational research to develop novel cancer therapies for tomorrow's Radiation Therapy.
Signal Transduction
  • EpoR
  • TNFR
  • Yamanaka Factors
Normal Tissues
  • Intestinal Stem Cells
  • Neural Stem Cells
  • Radiation Mitigation
Cancer Stem Cells
  • Breast Cancer
  • Glioblastoma
  • Cancer of the Head and Neck
Metabolism
  • Cancer Stem Cells
  • Radiation Effects
  • Molecular Targeting
Community
  • Consulting
  • Visualization
  • Education
WHAT WE DO
Research Topics
Molecular Radiobiology - 100%
Cancer Stem Cells - 70%
Metabolism - 60%
Drug Discovery - 40%
Radiation Mitigation - 70%
What we do
By Research Topic
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Metabolims of cancer is one of its few achilles heels that have been recognized a century ago but have not been targeted successfully yet. Our research aims on changing this.

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In a NIAD-funded project we explore the mechanisms behind the radiation mitigating effects of novel compounds discovered and developed by the UCLA Center for Counter for Medical Countermeasures against Radiation.

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The Lab is part of the NCI-designated Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in brain cancer at UCLA. Leading project 3 of the Center we study radiation-induced phenotype conversion in glioblastoma.

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We develop a cancer stem cell tracking and imaging system based on low proteasome activity in breast cancer, glioblastoma and cancer of the head and neck.

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Using a murine model for breast cancer we explore the role of pro-inflammatory signalling in breast development and carcinogenis.

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In an NIH-funded project we are using a high-throughput approach to develope a discovery platform for novel proteasome inhibitors and novel chemoradiation therapies.

We Make Science Visible
Our Publications
Publications by the Members of our Lab Cover a Broad Range of Cancer Topics.
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Breast Cancer Metabolism
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GlioblastomaMetabolism
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Breast CancerCancer Stem Cells
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Head and Neck CancerCancer Stem Cells
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Breast Cancer/GlioblastomaCancer Stem Cells
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Breast CancerSignal Transduction
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Breast CancerRadiobiology
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GlioblastomaCancer Stem Cells
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Breast CancerCancer Stem Cells
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Head and Neck CancerSignal Transduction
2017 © F. Pajonk. All rights reserved.