Iqbal Lab
From Research to Patient Care
The major focus of Dr. Iqbal's lab is to understand the molecular mechanism of lymphomagenesis and to translate the relevant findings in lymphoma patient care.
The lab extensively uses high-throughput genomic profiling techniques, including genome-wide mRNA, miRNA and DNA copy number analysis to improve molecular diagnosis and prognostication in lymphoid neoplasms.
The long-term research goal is genetic characterization and delineation of the molecular mechanisms leading to the transformation, in particular peripheral T-cell lymphomas. These poorly characterized lymphomas have an aggressive clinical course and are challenging to study at the molecular level, due to lack of a reliable animal model and lymphoma cell lines. The lab has generated T-cell relevant mouse models to determine the cell intrinsic pathogenetic mechanisms.
Current Projects
Using functional approaches, we have now defined robust diagnostic and prognostic signatures with distinct clinical and biological features. Two major consortiums, the International PTCL Project (I-PTCL) and the Lymphoma/Leukemia Molecular Profiling Project (LLMPP), are crucial for providing high-quality NHLs biospecimens for these studies, which have tremendously improved our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms. Current projects in the lab include:- Genetic Analysis
Genetic analysis in the novel PTCL subtypes - Circulating Cell-Free/Tumor DNA (cf/ctDNA)
The cell-free (cf) DNA sequencing, which can aid in diagnosis and disease monitoring - Molecular Subclassification
Molecular subclassification of PTCL for routine clinical practice - Murine Models
Developing novel murine models for PTCL subtypes
Evaluating the novel therapeutics (antibody-conjugated) drugs in PTCL
Tumor microenvironment analysis using Image Mass Cytometry (IMC)
Click here to see proposed work and completed research projects.
About Us
Click here to meet the members of our team, see who we're collaborating with, and learn more about graduate, postdoctoral, and undergraduate opportunities.
Resources