Mouse models of human B cell and plasma cell neoplasms
Siegfried Janz’ primary research interest concerns mouse models of human B-cell and plasma-cell neoplasms. Examples include non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia and multiple myeloma.
His work in the laboratory is currently focused on three projects. The first one – supported by a grant from the NCI – takes advantage of two complementary, unbiased, genetic forward screenings in a Myc-transgenic mouse model of human B-cell and plasma-cell neoplasia to enhance our understanding of the genetic pathways underlying malignant B-cell and plasma-cell transformation.
The second project – supported by a grant from the International Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) – concerns the development of a transgenic mouse model of human WM. The third project – supported by a senior research award from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) – uses genetically engineered mice for the preclinical validation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6, for translational myeloma research.
All three projects rely on transgenic mice generated in the Janz Laboratory. The mice are utilized to study mechanisms of neoplastic B-cell and plasma-cell development, determine tumor biology and genetics, and assess new intervention approaches for the benefit of human cancer patients.
As co-leader of the program on Cancer Genomics and Cell Growth, Siegfried Janz is also actively engaged in basic and translational cancer research at The University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. His primary goal here is to enhance our understanding of the molecular genetics and genomics of malignant tumors and to apply this knowledge for improved cancer therapy and prevention.
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