Dr. Anastasia Tikhonova
OICR Investigator I
Every functional process in our body is mediated by highly orchestrated cellular crosstalk. The bone marrow microenvironment maintains all hematopoietic cells, including stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors, though cell-cell interactions and secretion of soluble factors. The explicit goal of Dr. Anastasia Tikhonova’s research program is to delineate the mechanisms that underlie dysregulated HSC-niche crosstalk and target it to halt aberrant hematopoiesis.
In addition to hematopoietic malignancies, many other tumor types including prostate, breast and lung metastasize to and seek refuge from chemotherapy in the bone. Despite considerable advances in therapies targeting these cancers, once tumor cells have metastasized to the bone, they are generally untreatable. Dr. Tikhonova’s goal is to define molecular mechanisms driving bone marrow involvement in malignant processes. Understanding the cell-cell interactions that facilitate bone marrow colonization is an urgent clinical need and will allow for the targeted design of improved therapeutic strategies.
Current affiliations
- Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
- Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
- Investigator I, OICR
Research interests
- Cancer mechanisms and models
- Stem cells and regenerative medicine
- Tumour microenvironment
- Stem cell niche
- Targeted therapies for hematologic malignancies
Select publications
- Tikhonova AN*, Dolgalev I*, Hu H, …, Aifantis I. The bone marrow microenvironment at single-cell resolution. Nature. 2019; 569(7755): 222-228.
- Pitt LA*, Tikhonova AN*, Hu H, …, Schwab SR. CXCL12-Producing Vascular Endothelial Niches Control Acute T Cell Leukemia Maintenance. Cancer Cell. 2015; 27(6): 755-768.
- Van Laethem F, Tikhonova AN, Pobezinsky LA, …, Singer A. Lck availability during thymic selection determines the recognition specificity of the T cell repertoire. Cell. 2013; 154(6): 1326-1341.
- Tikhonova A, Aifantis I. The taming of the NF-kappaB: PP4R1 navigates while PP4c dephosphorylates. Immunity. 2012; 37(4): 594-596.
- Tikhonova AN*, Van Laethem F*, Hanada K, …, Singer A. alphabeta T cell receptors that do not undergo major histocompatibility complex-specific thymic selection possess antibody-like recognition specificities. Immunity. 2012; 36(1): 79-91.
See Dr. Tikhonova’s recent publications on PubMed.
Awards
- American Society of Hematology Fellow to Faculty Award
- Regeneron Prize for Creative Innovation Finalist
- New York University Medical Center Postdoc Traveling Award
- New York University Medical Center Nominee for the Blavatnik Regional Awards
- New York University Medical Center Research Day Traveling Award
- New York University Medical Center Molecular Oncology and Tumor Immunology Training Grant
- Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Young Investigator Grant
- Keystone Symposia Scholarship Hematopoiesis
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Special Fellow
Previous experience and education
- Postdoctoral Fellow, New York University Medical Centre
- PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Related links
Dr. Anastasia Tikhonova – University of Toronto Faculty Page
Dr. Anastasia Tikhonova – University Health Network researcher page
Opportunities to collaborate
For opportunities to collaborate with Dr. Tikhonova, please contact her directly.
Visit OICR’s Collaborative Research Resources directory for more opportunities to collaborate with OICR researchers.
Contact
Dr. Anastasia Tikhonova
Anastasia.Tikhonova@uhnresearch.ca
Twitter: @DrStass
