University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Biomedical EngineeringThe p16 React Lab
Heath Devin Skinner · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Heath Devin Skinner's lab at the University of Pittsburgh focuses on improving treatment outcomes for head and neck cancer, particularly by understanding how the protein p16 influences cancer cell responses to radiation therapy. Their research aims to identify molecular pathways that can lead to better precision medicine approaches, helping to determine which patients are likely to respond to specific treatments. By using advanced models and innovative techniques, the lab hopes to enhance therapeutic strategies and improve the quality of life for cancer survivors.
head and neck cancerp16 signalingradiation responseprecision oncologyDNA damage repairHPVtumor biologycancer treatment
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of p16 in DNA damage response in head and neck cancer.
AIM 02Characterize the interaction between p16 and Sp1 in tumor biology.
AIM 03Evaluate the effects of p16 and Sp1 on treatment responses to radiation and Olaparib.
AIM 04Identify biomarkers for predicting treatment outcomes in HPV+ and HPV- tumors.
AIM 05Test USP7 inhibitors in combination with radiation or PARP inhibitors in pre-clinical models.
Skills the Lab Values
mRNA analysiscell cultureimmunohistochemistrypre-clinical modelingmurine modelsWestern blottingChIP-seqdrug developmentdata analysis
Output against the department
Publications505top 16% of dept.93rd of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.3ktop 46% of dept.275th of 595
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.