Distinguished Scientist: Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario
Professor: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario
Cross Appointment: Department of Oncology
University Website: https://www.cancergeneticsresearch.ca/
Mailing Address
Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre
Room A4-136, Cancer Research Laboratory Program
790 Commissioners Rd. E.
London, Ontario
Canada N6A 4L6
Contact Information
- Tel: 519-685-8500 Extension 53027
- Email: fdick@uwo.ca
Staff
- Daniel Passos
Research Area
Cancer Genetics
Key Words
cell cycle, genome instability, epigenetics, human genetics, functional genomics, cancer dormancy, metastasis
Laboratory
Dr. Dick’s laboratory seeks to understand mechanisms of cancer development and metastasis. In particular, mutational events that cause genome instability, epigenetic change and create resistance to therapeutics. At a molecular level, we are particularly interested in inflammatory signals created by epigenetic alterations and the signaling pathways that support cancer dormancy.
Summary of Current Work
Recent highlights in the laboratory include our use of functional genomic approaches to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities of dormant ovarian cancer cells. These are being pursued through the development of new anti-dormancy cancer treatment approaches using novel candidate therapeutics. We are also applying functional genomic approaches to delineate a previously unappreciated inflammatory signaling mechanism that detects and eliminates damaged cells at a pre-cancerous stage. To advance these goals we are creating new collaborations with industry partners.
