Dr. Alexandra Naba
Assistant Professor
Associate Member UIC Cancer Center
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Contact:
Office: 2035 COMRB
email: anaba@uic.edu
Phone:(312)355-5417
Rotation Projects
The Naba lab studies the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in development, health, and disease, with a particular focus on cancer. To do so, we utilize classical molecular, cellular, and developmental biology approaches in combination with cutting-edge proteomics and computational analyses (Taha and Naba, Essays in Biochem, 2019). Our overarching goal is to better understand how the ECM contributes to diseases, in particular fibrosis and cancer, so that we can exploit it to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The Naba lab is a highly collaborative and dynamic group that strives for scientific excellence and offers a stimulating and inclusive working environment conducive to learning and professional development. More information about our lab can be found here: https://sites.google.com/a/uic.edu/nabalab/.
Our lab is looking for talented and highly motivated students to work on the following projects: Project 1: Elucidate the roles of the novel extracellular matrix protein, SNED1, in breast cancer metastasis We previously identified a novel ECM protein, SNED1 (Sushi, Nidogen and EGF-like domain protein 1), in a proteomic screen aimed at discovering ECM proteins differentially expressed between highly and poorly metastatic mammary tumors. We reported that SNED1 played a critical role in tumor dissemination, since SNED1 knockdown decreased metastasis in a murine model of breast cancer. We further showed that the level of expression of SNED1 was a prognostic factor for hormone-negative breast cancer patients (Naba et al., eLife, 2014). We are now working towards identifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlled by SNED1 and contributing to breast cancer metastasis. Project 2: Decipher the roles of SNED1 in craniofacial and skeletal development The importance of SNED1 in breast cancer metastasis prompted us to evaluate its roles in normal development and physiology. To do so, we generated a Sned1 knockout mouse model and found that Sned1 is an essential gene, since global Sned1 knockout results in early neonatal lethality. We also reported the first physiological functions of this gene as a regulator of craniofacial morphogenesis and skeletal growth (Barque et al.,Dev Dynamics, 2020).
Our current work focuses on 1) determining the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms by which SNED1 regulates craniofacial and skeletal development and 2) the potential contribution of SNED1 in a rare human syndrome: the 2q37 deletion syndrome. Through collaborative efforts, and as part of The Matrisome Project, initiated by Dr. Naba, our lab also continues to develop novel proteomic approaches and bioinformatic tools to further characterize the ECM of model systems and investigates its roles in diseases including cancer and fibrosis. In addition to their own research projects, incoming students will all have the opportunity to work on these collaborative projects with US and international academic laboratories and with pharmaceutical companies.