2012 Free to Breathe Young Investigator Research Grant
Kerstin Sinkevicius, PhD
Harvard Medical School
Research Project:
Role of TrkB in Cancer Spread
Summary:
The majority of lung cancer patients are currently diagnosed at stage IV, when their cancer has already metastasized. Dr. Sinkevicius’ research seeks to determine if a specific protein, TrkB, plays a role in moving lung cancer cells into new tissues. If TrkB does play a role in the spread of cancer cells, this project will determine how best to block its effects, which could ultimately lead to the development of new lung cancer therapies that can prevent lung cancer metastasis.