Rima Ezzeddine
RESEARCH PROJECT
The Role of CIRBP as a Functional Mediator of Leptomeningeal Metastasis
Leptomeningeal metastases are understudied by the research community due to the lack of animal models that recapitulate the disease experienced by patients. Our lab possesses a unique repository of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models that form spontaneous leptomeningeal metastases upon injecting tumors into the mouse mammary fat pad. Preliminary data from our group using these models suggest that Cold-Inducible RNA Binding Protein (CIRBP) acts as a functional mediator of leptomeningeal metastases. My project involves elucidating the role CIRBP plays in allowing cancer cells to survive and proliferate in the stressful environment of the leptomeninges, as well as identifying the target mRNAs that CIRBP binds to in the process. The resulting knowledge can be ultimately employed to establish therapeutic strategies, with which to treat or prevent leptomeningeal metastasis.
BACKGROUND
I obtained my Masters of Science in Biochemistry from Kuwait University in 2012. After that, I held an Instructor position at the American University of Kuwait till August 2019. In Fall 2019, I joined the Siegel Lab as a PhD student.
CONTACT INFO
Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre - McGill University
1160 Pine Ave. West (Room 508)
Montreal, Quebec (Canada)
H3A 1A3
T. 514.398.8889
F. 514.398.6769