Utilizing large-scale genomic techniques to decipher nuclear receptor and microRNA mechanisms in cancer

Purpose and goal

Cancer causes more than 22,700 deaths per year in Sweden. There is an urgent need for personalized medicine, diagnostic tools and novel treatment approaches. This project has established a collaboration between Texas Medical Center (US), KTH and Karolinska Institutet. The project has explored underlying molecular mechanisms in cancer and has utilized resources at SciLifeLab. It has involved Swedish companies, and expanded international exchange. The project leader has established a group in Sweden, acquired independent grants, professorship, and will continue the research.

Expected results and effects

This collaboration has published results related to novel cancer treatments in 15 scientific articles in peer-reviewed international journals. Results have also been disseminated at conferences, news, twitter and in the popular press. The project has increased the international mobility between KTH and the Texas Medical Center, involved three small Swedish companies, and generated a patent application. The research leader has become established in Sweden.

Planned approach and implementation

The researcher, who before the project was a group leader in the US, has under this grant moved to Sweden and transfered her research. In collaboration with the University of Houston and the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, cancer research investigating microRNAs and nuclear receptors signaling have been performed, and several small Swedish companies have been supported with expertise. Experimental systems, clinical material, and resources at SciLifeLab have been utilized. International exchange of PhD students and researchers has contributed to the successful outcomes.