OUR MISSION
The Lawler Lab uses a range of sophisticated preclinical models to develop innovative concepts for brain cancer therapy, with the goal of identifying the next generation of therapeutic approaches for these extremely challenging diseases.
Research Projects
Targeting the innate, antiviral cGAS–STING pathway has emerged as a promising approach to boost immune cell infiltration and vascular remodeling in cancer. We are currently investigating the role of STING pathway activation in GBM-associated endothelium.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is widespread, and may play a role in the progression of GBM. To study this we have developed a mouse model of CMV-induced GBM progression, where we are investigating the underlying biology and testing new therapeutic strategies targeting CMV.
Drug delivery is one of the major challenges to treating brain cancer, due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), that prevents the entry of the majority of cancer therapeutics into the brain. We are designing BBB penetrant peptide-drug conjugates as well as investigating small molecule barrier permeabilizers as tools to improve drug delivery to target and eliminate brain tumors.
