Dileep Varma, PhD
Assistant Professor, Cell and Molecular Biology; Feinberg School of Medicine
Research Program
Link
Cancer-Focused Research
The research in our lab is directed at understanding the molecular mechanisms that are involved in controlling and regulating proper kinetochore microtubule attachments in human cells. The malfunction of proteins at the kinetochore microtubule interface, many of which are subjects of investigation in our studies, interfere with a kinetochore-mediated surveillance mechanism called the spindle assembly checkpoint, which is defective in cancer cells, thus promoting them to divide uncontrollably. Many of these proteins are also predicted to be potent biomarkers to be targeted for the development of anti-mitotic chemotherapic drugs for treating cancer. Hence, efforts directed at understanding kinetochore microtubule attachment mechanisms will not only provide valuable insight into the understanding of cancer initiation and progression but will have a major impact on developing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to combat human cancers and other diseases associated with improper cell division.