Innovative High-throughput Approaches to Understanding and Combating Cancer

Host

Adriana Sánchez Danés, Principal Investigator, Champalimaud Research

Venue

Seminar room

Abstract

To overcome the complexities of cancer and pave a path towards a cure, the McManus Lab is developing innovative approaches that consider both the genetic drivers of the disease and its interactions within the cellular environment. Join Dr. McManus to explore new technologies and methods to combat this multifaceted complex human disease.

This seminar will showcase the use of high-throughput CRISPR technologies to map cancer genetic interactions in cells and mouse models, enabling the study of complex dependency pathways and a better understanding of which gene combinations promote or inhibit cancer. These technologies also address the genetic and epigenetic factors relevant to drug resistance.

Given the critical role of extrinsic factors in cancer, such as the tumor microenvironment and immune interactions, Dr. McManus will introduce a groundbreaking technology designed to track cell interactions. By understanding how cancer cells communicate and interact with their environment, these approaches can reveal new treatment opportunities and offer strategies to prevent tumor relapse.

Biography

Michael T. McManus, Ph.D. is a Professor at UCSF, holding the Vincent and Stella Coates Endowed Chair. He serves as the Director of the Keck Center for Noncoding RNAs and Core Director of ViraCore. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed his postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, focusing on Noncoding RNA Biology.

Dr. McManus’s research career is distinguished by a strong emphasis on technology and innovation, particularly in gene function analysis in health and disease. His lab uses systematic and synthetic approaches to develop new tools and methodologies for studying gene regulation. With over 150 publications and approximately 36,000 citations, his work has significantly impacted multiple scientific fields, including non-coding RNA, neurobiology, metabolism, and
cancer.

Since joining UCSF, Dr. McManus has led a productive lab focused on gene regulation and function, using both cultured cells and mouse models. He holds the Vincent and Stella Coates Endowed Chair and is affiliated with the Innovative Genomics Institute, the Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Diabetes Center, the Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub.

His contributions to science include pioneering work in RNA biology, CRISPR technologies, and the development of advanced mouse disease models. Notably, he developed shRNAs for gene silencing, a widely adopted technology, and dual Cas9 systems for high-density genetic interaction maps in mammalian cells, which have enabled precise insights into genetic mechanisms and therapeutic target identification. Furthermore, he developed the CRISPRi mouse model, a powerful tool for silencing genes using dCas9-KRAB, applied to study gene function in neurons, metabolic tissues, and other contexts. Dr. McManus identified critical dependencies, such as the role of the enzyme GPX4 in therapy-resistant cancer cells, offering new strategies for preventing tumor relapse. His work has also contributed to the field of epigenomics and our understanding of gene regulation on a genome-wide scale.
 

Register here.
 

About CR Colloquia Series

Champalimaud Research (CR) Colloquia Series is a seminar programme organised by the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown to promote the discussion about the most interesting and significant questions in neuroscience and physiology & cancer with appointed speakers by the CR Community.