UCLA G.O. Discovery Lab: Gynecologic Oncology Cancer Research Lab

All throughout Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, we are giving updates about our current research dedicated to making scientific discoveries that can help patients with these cancers. One example of this is a collaborative project we are working on with other leading scientists at UCLA testing the ability of specialized immune cells, called iNKT cells, to target ovarian cancers. These iNKT cells are designed to target a protein that is expressed on the outside of some ovarian cancer cells. These iNKT cells recognize this protein and use it to hone in on the cancer cells. These iNKT cells may be an effective new immunotherapy option to target ovarian cancers. To learn more about our work, please visit our website at www.godiscoverylab.com

Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh had the pleasure of speaking with Spectrum News 1 SoCal about raising awarness for National Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month and her partnership with The Ovarian Cancer Circle/Inspired By Robin Babbini. The Ovarian Cancer Circle Inspired by Robin Babbini is hosting their annual TEAL THERE'S A CURE Fundraiser. This year, it will take the form of a virtual 5K walk/run. For mor information, or to sign up please visit their website at https://theovariancancercircle.org/events/

Thank you Larchmont Buzz for helping highlight the amazing work of The Ovarian Cancer Circle/Inspired By Robin Babbini! For more information about the TEAL THERE'S A CURE Virtual 5K Walk/Run, please visit their website at https://theovariancancercircle.org/events/

We would like to join The Ovarian Cancer Circle/Inspired By Robin Babbini in thanking Mayor Lindsey Horvath & City of West Hollywood for recognizing our work during National Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. #nomorerobinstories #cityofwesthollywood #tealtheresacure #ovariancancer #ovariancancerawareness #godiscoverylab

Hi everyone! My name is Christopher Ochoa and I am a graduate student in the GO Discovery Lab at UCLA. The month of September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month and for over 20 years since its establishment in 1999, September has been bringing awareness to the diseases women bravely face. The researchers in our lab are dedicated to generating breakthroughs in science that will benefit women dealing with gynecological cancers! One of the projects I am currently working is t...o better understand the stem cells within the endometrium! As the endometrium is shed each month during menstruation, stem cells are responsible for the regrowth of this tissue in the days following the beginning of the menstrual cycle. Given that genetic mutations acquired by stem cells are often a large driving factor for cancers, I hope to better understand the role that stem cells of the endometrium play in the development and progression of endometrial cancer. Image from K. G. Aghila Rani & Taruna Madan, Uterine Stem Cells and Their Future Therapeutic Potential in Regenerative Medicine. See more

A big welcome to a new member of the G.O. Discovery Laboratory team. Gabriella earned her degree in Biological Sciences at Union College in New York. After graduating, she began her research career at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Plastic Surgery where she investigated long gap peripheral nerve regeneration using acellular conduits and adipose stem cell therapies for various soft tissue deformities. She then worked at a biotechnology company focused on completing clinical trials using autologous muscle derived cells. Gabriella is thrilled to be back in the lab contributing to impactful research to improve the care and well-being of women with gynecologic cancers.

Please join the G.O. Discovery Lab and The Ovarian Cancer Circle/Inspired By Robin Babbini for their annual TEAL THERE'S A CURE fundraiser. This year, The Circle is hosting a Virtual 5K! You can walk or run in any city, any country, anytime between September 29 and October 13th! To register for this event, please visit: https://theovariancancercircle.org/events/

https://beverlypress.com//virtual-5k-fundraises-for-ovari/ September is National Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, and The Ovarian Cancer Circle/Inspired By Robin Babbini is hosting the Teal There’s a Cure Virtual 5K between Sept. 29 and Oct. 13. You can walk or run anywhere! To register, visit https://theovariancancercircle.org/events/

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. All month long we are giving updates about our current research. We are working hard (while social distancing) to make discoveries that can help patients with these cancers. One example is a collaborative project we are working on with other leading scientists at UCLA testing the ability of a dietary supplement called creatine in powering patient’s own immune cells to fight ovarian cancer. Creatine works as an energy source for immune cells. Once powered by creatine, these immune cells may be more effective at targeting cancer cells. This dietary supplement may also work in combination with other emerging immune therapies to better target ovarian tumors.

Hi! My name is Dr. Tanya Singh and I am a postdoctoral researcher in the GO Discovery Laboratory at UCLA. September is marked as Gynecologic Cancer Awareness month with the goal of spreading awareness to all gynecologic cancersovarian, cervical, endometrial, vaginal and vulvar. As a passionate cancer researcher, I would like to take this opportunity to share my knowledge working on different aspects of ovarian cancer. One of the biggest clinical challenges in the treatment o...f ovarian cancer is development of resistance to the standard platinum-based chemotherapy. Once a patient is diagnosed with therapy resistant disease, treatment options are very limited. One project focused on addressing this clinical problem is testing drug combinations to better target platinum-resistant ovarian cancers. One such combination therapy targets specific proteins (called inhibitors of apoptosis proteins, "IAPs") that help cancer cells bypass the cell death process. This combination therapy may open the door to a new therapeutic option for treatment of therapy-resistant ovarian cancer. In another project I am leading, we are investigating the unique profile of therapy-resistant ovarian cancer cells using an emerging powerful platform called cyTOF. This may potentially lead to identification of biomarkers that may be utilized to predict a patient’s response to platinum-based chemotherapy. See more

Hello! My name is Adam. I am a staff researcher in the GO Discovery Laboratory at UCLA. September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness month, and our research group is dedicated to making discoveries that will help in the treatment of ovarian cancer to improve the lives of patients affected by this disease. One example of this is a project I am currently spearheading that is testing a peptide designed to target the most commonly mutated gene in ovarian cancer called p53. p53 norma...lly functions to stop a cell from become cancerous, but when it is mutated this normal function can become disrupted and it can lead to cancer. The peptide, dubbed reactivator of p53 or ReACp53 for short, is currently being tested by scientists around the world including our research group. If successful, ReACp53 may eventually provide a new treatment option alongside standard chemotherapy (or in combination with other treatments) for more effective treatment of ovarian cancers To learn more about our work, please visit our website at www.godiscoverylab.com -Adam

September is OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. Know the symptoms and how to be proactive. That could save your life.