Dr. Trevor Shepherd
Director, Centre for Translational Cancer Research
Translational Oncology Scientist, Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre
Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Cross Appointments: Department of Oncology and Anatomy & Cell Biology
Office: Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, LHSC-VH, Rm. A4-836
Phone: 519-685-8500 Ext. 56347
Fax: 519-685-8673
Email: tshephe6@uwo.ca
Research Website: Dr. Trevor Shepherd's Website
Research Interests:
Ovarian cancer is a devastating malignancy since in many cases women are first diagnosed after the disease has already spread, or metastasized. Even after aggressive surgery and combination cytotoxic chemotherapy, very often this relentless disease returns quickly with evolved chemotherapy-resistance. Therefore, the overarching theme of the Shepherd lab, within the Mary & John Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit (TOCRU) is to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in ovarian cancer metastasis and test new therapeutic strategies to target and alleviate late-stage disease and chemo-resistance.
The TOCRU represents fundamental and translational research activities co-led by scientists Drs. Shepherd and Gabriel DiMattia (Depts. of Oncology & Biochemistry), and in close collaboration with gynaecologic oncology surgeons and other members of the Gynaecologic Oncology Multidisciplinary Disease Site Team at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre. Together, the TOCRU team has made significant discoveries through the novel development and use of ovarian cancer patient ascites-derived cell lines representing disease diversity and their application of an in vitro three-dimensional spheroid and organoid models of metastasis and tumour biology. The continued objective of the TOCRU is to ultimately apply new research discoveries to impact the lives of ovarian cancer patients with improved therapies to prolong disease-free survival and improve overall quality-of-life.
Current Projects:
1. Bioenergetic stress signalling mediated by Liver kinase B1 and its downstream kinase substrates in ovarian cancer spheroids and metastasis.
2. Therapeutic targeting of ULK1 and autophagy as an integral survival mechanism in ovarian cancer metastasis.
3. Using patient-derived spheroids and organoids as three-dimensional models of tumour progression for therapeutics testing.
Go to www.theshepherdlab.com for more details.
Publications:
For publications, please visit Dr. Shepherd's Google Scholar page or PubMed page.
