Research
The research focus of the Division Pharmacology lies on the investigation of underlying molecular mechanisms of tumor formation and progression. The identification of potential (drug) targets may be translated into new therapy approaches as well as tools for prognosis and diagnosis of specific tumor diseases.
The Division Pharmacology was established in 2019 by the appointment of Prof. Dagmar Stoiber-Sakaguchi. Her team consists of nationally and internationally well-connected experts, with great experience in the field of molecular biology and oncology.
Members of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) protein family, particularly STAT3, are hyperactivated in various solid tumors and hematological malignancies stimulating cellular proliferation and survival. The JAK-STAT signaling pathway transmits signals from extracellular ligands (e.g. cytokines, hormones, or growth factors) through an intracellular signaling cascade to the transcriptional machinery in the nucleus. (Figure adapted from Witalisz-Siepracka et al., 2022; https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.947568)
Current basic molecular biology research in the Department of Pharmacology focuses on the following:
- JAK/STAT pathway and its influence in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Type I interferon as a mediator between tumors and immune system
- STAT3 isoforms – the good and the bad in tumor development
- Tumor suppressors and oncogenes in lymphoma
- Identification and verification of potential targets for new therapeutic options