BioE Seminar: Engineered Next-Generation Protein Therapeutics for Treating Cancer

Abstract: The Cochran Lab engineers proteins as therapeutics and diagnostic agents for biomedical applications including cancer and regenerative medicine. I will provide an overview of our research and will discuss the discovery and development of therapeutic approaches for targeted cancer treatment, spanning a broad range of efforts in the areas of protein design and engineering, biochemical and biophysical analyses, and preclinical and clinical testing. In particular, my presentation will highlight several examples of engineered 'receptor decoy' proteins that bind their cognate ligands with high affinity and inhibit cell signaling that drives cancer growth and metastasis. These engineered proteins have translational potential for treating aggressive tumors, including ovarian, breast, and lung cancers.