Research Theme:
Cellular & Molecular Engineering,Research Interests:
Myeloid malignancies, myelodysplastic syndromes, hematopoietic system development, toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways, Notch signalling pathway
Biography:
Dr. Karsan is internationally recognized in the field of blood cancer research. His translational research lab has generated seminal work on the role of noncoding RNAs and innate immune signaling in blood cancers. He currently leads a team of six principal investigators in a Terry Fox Research Institute Program Project in acute leukemia research. He is a member of various international hematology committees including: the International Working Group for Prognosis in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), the Experimental Hematology Subcommittee of the Society for Hematopathology, and the Laboratory Assays Working Group for the Myeloid Malignancies Precision Medicine Initiative. In 2002, he co-founded the Centre for Blood Research at UBC with nine other principal investigators.
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
We are a diverse research group working to understand the molecular basis of leukemias and what makes them resistant to therapy. Some examples include: How noncoding RNAs contribute to leukemia, how the epigenome contributes to therapy response, how the first blood stem cells are generated in the embryo, and translating these findings into clinical assays.