Experimental Oncology

Barbacid lab is interested in identifying viable therapeutic strategies against KRAS mutant pancreatic and lung adenocarcinomas, two tumor types in which there is overwhelming evidence that KRAS mutations represent the initiating cancer-triggering event. To this end, his group has embarked in a long-term project to validate the therapeutic potential of each member of the MAPK and PI3K pathways, the main signaling pathways responsible for transmitting KRAS oncogenic signaling, using genetically engineered mouse models that faithfully reproduce the natural history of the corresponding human tumors.

A position is open for TFM to participate in the generation of suitable RAF1 inhibitors capable of reproducing pharmacologically those therapeutic effects observed upon its genetic ablation. To this end, Barbacid group has succeeded in expressing RAF1 in a soluble form. This result will allow us to identify small molecules that can bind to RAF1 in order to ultimately, generate PROTACs to degrade RAF1 in human tumors.

The Barbacid laboratory is fully committed to translate the basic findings obtained with genetically engineered mouse tumor models to a clinical scenario that eventually will help patients suffering from KRAS mutant cancers.