Group Leader Joanna Zawacka-Pankau, PhD, Associate Professor
Joanna Zawacka-Pankau is an Associate Professor in Medical Biotechnology at the Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge. She holds a joined position as a group leader at the Medical University of Warsaw.
She completed her postdoctoral training in p53 tumor biology and targeted therapies in the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute (2005 – 2006).
In 2007, she was awarded the Assistant Professor position at the University of Gdansk. Next, since 2012 she was Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute.
Our Research
Our goal is to identify effective, specific, and selective treatments for solid and hematological cancers with TP53 mutations that can be rapidly translated into clinical practice. Towards that goal, we use repurposed drugs shown to reactivate p53 protein family members, compounds reactivating mutant p53 and the standard of care as well as unique pre-clinical models which include primary human cancer cells and humanized mouse models.
Using an interdisciplinary approach we strive to understand the mechanisms by which p53 exerts its tumor suppression function and affects longevity by applying cutting-edge biophysical, biochemical, bioinformatics, and deep learning methods. We hope, in the future, this knowledge could be translated for improved cancer therapy and to modulate physiological aging in humans.
Team MembersDr Qurat Ul Ain Fateh
Bahareh Haeri, PhD student
Matilde Fregni, Erasmus student
Funding
Cathrine Everts Forskningsstiftelse 2021;Åke Wibergs stiftelse;National Science Centre, Poland (research grant OPUS 20)
CollaborationProf. Klas Wiman, Karolinska InstitutetProf. Elsa Flores, Moffitt Cancer CenterProf. Patrick Micke, Uppsala University Dr. Pan Pantziarka, Anticancer FundDr. Gauthier Bouche, Anticancer Fund
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