Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests:
The research interests of our laboratory lie at the intersection of cancer biology, signal transduction, and metal homeostasis.

Keywords:
Cancer Biology, Metal Homeostasis, Signal Transduction, Kinases, Small GTPases, Pharmacologic Interventions, Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Research Details:
The Brady Lab is part of the Department of Cancer Biology and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Our research program at Penn explores two key areas in cancer biology to understand what fuels cancer cells.

Mapping and Leveraging Metal Signaling in Cancer
We’re looking beyond the usual nutrients—proteins, fats, and sugars—to examine the contribution of metals to cancer growth. Metals are essential for many cellular processes, supporting the structure and function of DNA, RNA, and a large number of proteins. Our bodies rely on dietary metals, specific transporters to absorb them, and tight regulation to keep metal levels balanced. However, much remains unknown about how metals from our diet fine-tune biological functions or how cells adjust to changes in metal availability. Our research team is investigating these questions by studying how cells maintain metal balance and respond to metal fluctuations, focusing on how metal-protein interactions drive cellular processes by intersecting with cellular metabolic pathways. We’re also exploring whether metal needs shift as stem cells, which drive tissue growth and repair, mature into specialized types or are activated from a resting state to start repairs in a process that can go wrong and may be one of the first steps toward cancer development. This work could lead to new insights into how metals support tissue health and development, potentially uncovering new ways to treat diseases like cancer where these processes are disrupted.

Unlocking the Chemical Space of Cancer-Associated Perturbations
Although detection of genetic differences between cancer and normal cells has led to advances in precision medicine, only a small fraction of patients benefit from these approaches. We’re expanding beyond genetics to focus on proteins, which directly drive cancer initiation, growth, and spread. By tracking changes in protein function, we can better predict treatment responses, identify new cancer vulnerabilities, and develop targeted therapies. To advance this, we created the Probe Enabled Activity Reporting (PEAR) platform with colleagues from biochemistry, cancer biology, and radiology. PEAR uses a unique probe to capture the full range of proteins in cancer cells, identifying potential drug targets that genetic analysis might miss. This approach could significantly enhance precision oncology and drug discovery, opening doors for better cancer treatments.

Lab Members:
Graduate Students:
Ahlenne Abreu
Yuxuan Chang
Islam Elsaid
Nate McKnight
Postdoctoral Fellows:
Santanu Ghosh, Ph.D.
Ralph White III, Ph.D.
Research Technician:
Andrew Jarvis
Administrative Coordinator:
Deb Sneddon
dsneddon@upenn.edu
215-573-2281

Rotation Projects:
Rotation projects are available in each area of interest in the lab. Please contact Dr. Brady for details.