Dr. Robert Rottapel
Contact
Dr. Robert Rottapel
Senior Investigator & Co-Leader,
Ovarian Cancer TRI
Ovarian Cancer TRI
Donna De Francesco
ddefranc@uhnresearch.ca
Senior Investigator & Co-Leader,
Ovarian Cancer TRI
Ovarian Cancer TRI
The Rottapel laboratory uses functional genetic screens (both shRNA and CRISPR/Cas9) to identify novel vulnerabilities in ovarian cancer as a strategy to develop new therapeutic targets. They focus on understanding signal transduction pathways that operate in normal and cancer cells and the regulatory processes that control protein function. The lab is particularly interested in targeting adaptive stress pathways that support the transformed cancer state as a strategy to find new anti-cancer therapies.
Other areas of research pursued in the laboratory focus on signal transduction pathways in the immune system and the study of monogenic human diseases that control inflammation, bone homeostasis and metabolism.
Experience & Education
- Program Director, Innovation in Target Validation, OICR
- Amgen Chair for Cancer Research, University Health Network
Current Affiliations
- Senior Investigator, OICR
- Co-Leader, Ovarian Cancer Translational Research Initiative
- Senior Scientist and Amgen Chair for Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
- Professor, Departments of Medicine, Immunology and Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto
- Rheumatologist, Department of Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto
Select Publications
- Dimitriou ID, Lee K, Akpan I, …, Rottapel R. Timed Regulation of 3BP2 Induction Is Critical for Sustaining CD8(+) T Cell Expansion and Differentiation. Cell Rep. 2018;24(5):1123-1135.
- Gebregiworgis T, Marshall CB, Nishikawa T, …, Rottapel R, …, Ikura M. Multiplexed Real-Time NMR GTPase Assay for Simultaneous Monitoring of Multiple Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Activities from Human Cancer Cells and Organoids. J Am Chem Soc. 2018;140(13):4473-4476.
- Sandí MJ, Marshall CB, Balan M, …, Rottapel R. MARK3 mediated phosphorylation of ARHGEF2 couples microtubules to the actin cytoskeleton to establish cell polarity. Sci Signal. 2017;10(503).
- Fine N, Dimitriou ID, Rottapel R. Go with the flow: GEF-H1 mediated shear stress mechanotransduction in neutrophils. Small GTPases. 2017 :1-9.
- Kent OA, Sandi MJ, Rottapel R. Co-dependency between KRAS addiction and ARHGEF2 promotes an adaptive escape from MAPK pathway inhibition. Small GTPases. 2017:1-8.
- Rabinowicz N, Mangala LS, Brown KR, …, Rottapel R, …, Izraeli S. Targeting the centriolar replication factor STIL synergizes with DNA damaging agents for treatment of ovarian cancer. Oncotarget. 2017;8(16):27380-27392.
- Matsumoto Y, La Rose J, Lim M, …, Rottapel R. Ubiquitin ligase RNF146 coordinates bone dynamics and energy metabolism. J Clin Invest. 2017;127(7):2612-2625.
- Medrano M, Communal L, Iwanicki M, …, Rottapel R. Interrogation of functional cell surface markers identifies CD151 dependency in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Cell Report. 2017;18(10):2343-2358.
- Fine N, Dimitriou ID, Rullo J, …, Rottapel R. GEF-H1 is necessary for neutrophil shear stress-induced migration during inflammation. J Cell Biol. 2016;215(1):107-119.
- Meiri D, Marshall CB, Mokady D, …, Rottapel R. Mechanistic insight into GPCR-mediated activation of the microtubule-associated RhoA exchange factor GEF-H1. Nat Commun. 2014;5:4857.
See Dr. Rottapel’s recent publications on PubMed or on Google Scholar.
Research Areas
Disease Areas
Opportunities to Collaborate
- Target validation in ovarian cancer
- Development of novel small molecule or antibody based therapeutics
- Mechanism of transformation underlying ovarian cancer
- CRISPR/CAS9 functional genetic screens
- Drug sensitizing screens
Visit OICR’s Collaborative Research Resources directory for more opportunities to collaborate with OICR researchers.
Looking Ahead
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