Chandra Maharjan, Graduate research assistant in Dr. Dawn Quelle's laboratory receives a Ballard and Seashore Dissertation Fellowship for Spring 2021. 

Abstract:  Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are rare, difficult-to-treat cancers with unclear molecular pathogenesis. My research seeks to better understand the role of a novel oncogene called RABL6A in pNET genesis and progression. Functional studies reveal that RABL6A promotes pNET cell survival and proliferation in vitro ‘partly’ by activating the Akt/mTOR and inhibiting the Rb1 signaling. Using an unbiased genetic screen called Sleeping Beauty, we aim to identify currently undefined RABL6A-regulated pathways that drive pNET pathogenesis. Moreover, my second aim is to investigate the in vivo role of RABL6A in pNET development and angiogenesis using a genetic pNET mouse model called RIP-Tag2.