University of Massachusetts-Boston · BiologyPathania Cancer Lab
Shailja Pathania · Boston, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. Shailja Pathania's lab at the University of Massachusetts Boston focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that lead to cancer in individuals with BRCA2 mutations, which significantly increase the risk for breast and ovarian cancer. The research investigates how the absence of the BRCA2 protein causes genomic instability, focusing on early cellular changes that transform normal cells into cancerous ones. This work not only aims to identify potential therapeutic targets for treating BRCA2-deficient tumors but also seeks to develop effective strategies for cancer prevention.
BRCA2genome instabilitycancer preventionDNA repairtumorigenesis
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the mechanisms of DNA damage in BRCA2 deficient cells.
AIM 02Study the role of cytosine deaminases in generating genomic instability.
AIM 03Identify early markers of tumorigenesis in BRCA2 mutation carriers.
AIM 04Explore combination drug therapies targeting BRCA2 deficient tumors.
AIM 05Develop strategies for cancer prevention in BRCA2 mutation carriers.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureDNA sequencingCRISPRWestern blotmicroscopyRNA extractionnucleotide excision repair assaysbioinformaticsdata analysisanimal models
Output against the department
Publications98bottom 34% of dept.677th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.0kbottom 14% of dept.890th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.