Madonna Laboratory (Bernard L. Mirkin Memorial Laboratory)
Attending surgeon in the Division of Pediatric Surgery at Children’s Memorial Hospital, Assistant professor of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois.
Phone: (773) 880-4422
Research Interests:
The primary thrust of our research team has focused on studies to identify the basic biological processes that regulate adaptation of malignant tumor cells to stressful environments, such as those produced by anti-cancer drugs, and thereby permit their survival in the presence of agents that would normally kill them. Understanding these processes will help cancer researchers develop novel chemotherapeutic strategies. Our group has directed its attention to tumors that predominate during early childhood, such as neuroblastoma. Since neuroblastoma tumors are derived from neural crest cells, they have many of their characteristics and respond to neuronal growth factors, most significantly, nerve growth factor (NGF). Our group will also focus our research on illustrating the differential effects of NGF Receptors, P75 and Trk A, on the biological response of neuroblastoma to NGF. Understanding the role of this differential expression and activation on the various signaling pathways will lead to a better understanding of neuroblastoma growth and metastasis and will lead to potential new targets for treatment of this very aggressive tumor of young children.
Laboratory Personnel:
Fei Chu, M.D., Ph.D.
Research assistant professor
fchu@childrensmemorial.org
Phone: (773) 755-6519
Fax: (773) 755-6518
Sandra Clark, B.S.
Laboratory manager
sclark@northwestern.edu
Phone: 773-755-6517
Janette Holub, M.D.
Surgical research fellow
jholub@gmail.com
Phone: 773-755-7389
Timothy Lautz, M.D.
Surgical research fellow
t-lautz@northwestern.edu
Phone: 773-755-6520
Yi-Yong Qiu, M.D.
Senior research associate
y_yqiu@yahoo.com
Phone: 773-755-6520
Xin Zheng, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior research scientist
xizheng@childrensmemorial.org
Phone: 773-755-6520