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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
Professor
carlosrcalderon32@gmail.com
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Carlos Calderon
SRA
indaaz9472@gmail.com
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Linda Azizi, Pharm.D.
PostDoc
lindahl89sysu@gmail.com
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Ling He, Ph.D.
Project Scientist

amcardenas418@gmail.com
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Anjelica Cardenas
Ph.D., PostDoc

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Mahya Mohammadi
M.D., PostDoc

ssutlief05@gmail.com
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Sabrina Sutlief
Lab Assistant

ayakim@g.ucla.edu
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Alex Yakimova
Undergrad
sgjin@ucla.edu
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Sophia Jin
Undergrad
vibhasri@g.ucla.edu
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Vibha Srinivas
Undergrad
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 an NCI-funded project we explore the effciacy of drugs in NCI's CTEP portfolio against radiation-induced phenotype conversion in GBM.

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In a project funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) we develop novel drugs to prevent radiation-induced reprogramming of non-stem cancer cells into cancer stem cells.

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Funded by the American Cancer Society we study the fate of glioma stem cells in the tumor mircoenvironment.

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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 exploring novel ways to drive cancer cells into terminal differentiation.

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
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Breast Cancer Cancer Stem Cells
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Normal Brain Radiobiology
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Small Intestines Radiobiology
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Small Intestines Radiobiology
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Head and Neck Cancer Cancer Stem Cells
2024 © F. Pajonk. All rights reserved.