Silvia Jansen, PhD

Research Interest

Both the actin and the microtubule cytoskeleton play critical roles in cellular processes that are often dysregulated or hijacked in cancer cells. where they function as important drivers of malignant development, including promotion of tumor growth, survival and metastasis. This marks both cytoskeletons as attractive anti-tumor targets, however the use of anti-tubulin drugs is hampered by the development of chemoresistance whereas the use of anti-actin compounds is currently not feasible due to major off-target effects. We are thus interested in identifying new approached to target the cytoskeletons to treat cancer through identification and characterization of tumor-specific posttranslational regulation of actin and tubulin.

Education

• 2001: BS, Universiteit Hasselt, Belgium
• 2003: MS, KULeuven, Belgium
• 2007: PHD, KULeuven, Belgium

Training

• 2007 - 2012: Postdoc, KULeuven, Belgium
• 2009 - 2010: Visiting Postdoc, University of Pennsylvania, USA
• 2012 - 2017: Postdoc, Brandeis University

Selected Research Publications