Sofia de Penning Aguilar
Doctoral fellow – Host-Microbiota Interaction lab – Inflammation Research Center VIB-UGent (Department Internal Medicine & Pediatrics)
Principal investigator: prof. Lars Vereecke (PhD)
Research focus
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide, and the fourth in regard to mortality. The incidence of CRC is increasing in Western societies, and it is affecting younger individuals. CRC is largely heterogenic, presenting different mutational profiles, tumor locations, and immune infiltration amongst other factors that define its complex tumor microenvironment. Increasing evidence over the past few years has identified intratumoral microbiota as a key regulator of the tumor microenvironment, suggesting its influence over tumor initiation, progression, invasiveness and response to immune checkpoint inhibition-therapy.
My research project aims at investigating the tumor-driving mechanisms of specific oncogenic bacteria in relation to CRC initial non-invasive and metastasis stages, using both CRC mouse in vivo models and intestinal organoid in vitro models.
We believe that achieving a better understanding about the oncogenic potential of the microbiome, which is currently an under-studied and emerging field, could potentially contribute towards the goal of developing more precise and effective treatments for CRC patients.
Contact & links
- Lab Address: Host-Microbiota Interaction lab (HMI), VIB Center for Inflammation Research, campus UZ Gent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, MRBII building (entrance 38), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Lars Vereecke lab
- Sofia de Penning Aguilar is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks