Diana Saleiro, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Medicine, Hematology Oncology Division; Feinberg School of Medicine
Research Program
Cancer-Focused Research
Dr. Saleiro's goal is to identify novel targetable molecules within the interferon (IFN) pathways to enhance IFN-mediated anti-cancer effects. IFNs are considered potent cytokines with antiviral, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory, and antineoplastic properties. However, the molecular mechanisms of IFN action remain largely elusive, complicating the overall understanding of their biological effects and precluding advances on their clinical use. In past studies, Dr. Saleiro demonstrated that the kinase ULK1 plays a unique role in both type I and type II IFN signaling, independent of its role in autophagy. Through proteomic and molecular biology analyses she identified novel kinases that directly interact with ULK1 upon engagement of both type I and type II IFN receptors. These results define previously unknown and distinct type I and II IFN pathways that appear to be key elements required to mount efficient type II IFN-mediated immune responses and type I IFN-induced antineoplastic responses in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Current studies are aimed to increase our understanding of interferons' actions and to support the development of new and more efficient targeted-therapies and immunotherapies involving the modulation of IFN-mediated responses.