Staff Scientist
Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Comprehensive Cancer Center
Monrovia, CA, United States
Embarking on the journey as a Staff scientist at the prestigious City of Hope National comprehensive cancer center, CA, under the mentorship of Associate Prof. Lili Wang, Dr. Prajish Iyer is dedicated to unraveling the intricate mechanisms behind the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into Richter's transformation (RT). Motivated by clinical unmet challenges in RT, Dr. Iyer wants to uncover new therapeutic paths to decipher this intricate process. Dr. Iyer meticulously constructed a specialized B-cell restricted model of CLL-RT, engineered with precision to incorporate MYC targets and mitochondrial deregulation, focusing on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Recognizing the dearth of insights into the metabolic dynamics driving this transformation, Dr. Iyer has harnessed the power of LC-MS-based metabolomics and mitochondrial functional assays to unravel the hidden metabolic rewiring that promotes CLL transformation.
Dr. Iyer's journey into cancer research commenced during Ph.D. training at the Advanced Center for Treatment, Education, and Research in Cancer in Mumbai. Under the mentorship of Dr. Amit Dutt, Dr. Iyer delved into the genomics of gallbladder cancer (GBC), lung cancer, and head and neck tumors. Leveraging cutting-edge next-generation sequencing techniques and rigorous in vivo validation, Dr. Iyer filled a critical gap by elucidating the somatic mutation landscape of the Indian gallbladder cancer genome and uncovered recurrent mutations in ERBB2, KRAS, and their functional significance using diverse tools such as cell lines and in vivo murine models. Dr. Iyer's contributions culminated in identifying potential therapeutic interventions using pharmacological inhibitors. This formative phase of Dr. Iyer's academic journey has laid a strong foundation for my subsequent pursuit of unraveling the complexities of CLL to RT transformation, reflecting my enduring commitment to cancer research.
Saturday, October 7, 2023
9:50 AM – 10:00 AM EDT
Monday, October 9, 2023
8:55 AM – 9:05 AM EDT
