Hello! My name is Noorie Sandhu, and I am a junior double majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Physiology at the University of Arizona. I am originally from Ohio and moved to Tucson to pursue my undergraduate studies. In May 2024, I had the honor of joining Dr. Anne Cress’ Lab at the UA Cancer Center. In the Cress Lab, we are focused on uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms that cause cancer to move from its original site to a distant site in the body via a process called metastasis. Metastasis is critical to study because it is often attributed as the primary reason for cancer-related fatalities. We specifically use prostate cancer (PCa) models, but our research is also applicable to understanding how other cancers migrate. In the Cress Lab, I am interested in investigating how cell-surface adhesion receptors, called integrins, drive PCa invasion and metastasis via their interactions with other cells and the extracellular matrix. My project is focused on using novel biosensors to determine the activation of specific pathways to drive PCa metastasis. Discovering the significance of integrins in PCa can allow scientists to develop more effective therapeutics, prevent metastatic disease, and increase cancer patient survivability.
