Our Research
The Contessa lab advances radiation oncology research employing high-throughput screening formats for both drug and target discovery. The laboratory has developed innovative approaches for phenotypic screening platforms that led to the identification of a first-in-class series of N-glycosylation inhibitors, small molecules that enhance tumor radiosensitivity and are currently being optimized through medicinal chemistry efforts.
By integrating fluorescence-based imaging with CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screening, the laboratory investigates the cellular mechanisms that regulate N-glycosylation and identifies novel therapeutic targets within this pathway. The group also employs pooled genetic screening approaches to uncover unbiased mechanisms governing tumor cell responses to radiation. These studies have identified STING as a tumor cell-intrinsic regulator of radiation-induced cell death and revealed JAK-dependent cytoprotective signaling pathways that influence cell-cycle regulation and treatment resistance.
The Contessa laboratory’s overarching goals are to:
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Identify mechanisms and interventions that will enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy
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Understand mechanisms of tumor resistance to DNA damage and other cancer treatments