Dr. Laura Gillespie

A researcher in the Terry Fox Laboratories of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dr Gillespie studies the molecular mechanism of signal transduction during fibroblast growth factor induced cell growth and differentiation.

She said that polypeptide growth factors are known to have pleiotropic effects on cells, ranging from the stimulation of cell proliferation and the control of cell migration to the regulation of cell differentiation. "It has become apparent that many of the known oncogenes – that is, those genes that when altered can contribute to cancerous transformation – are growth factors, their cellular receptors or components of their intracellular signaling pathways. Thus, investigation of the regulatory mechanisms governing the cellular response to growth factors will further our understanding of how misregulation can lead to cancer."

Together with her colleague, Dr. Gary Paterno, Dr. Gillespie’s research is directed towards clarifying the molecular mechanisms by which growth factors regulate cell growth and differentiation. "In particular, we have investigated the fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and the role they play in such processes since aberrant expression of FGF intracellular signaling pathways in the adult contributes to the neoplastic state. Our goal is to define the FGF signaling events that regulate these cellular processes and, ultimately, to identify pivotal points in the signal transduction cascade critical to the target cell's response."

Dr. Gillespie said the approach she and Dr. Paterno have taken is to isolate and characterize genes that are the initial nuclear targets of FGF signal transduction, the "immediate-early" genes. "Immediate-early genes are the most likely to function as 'master' regulatory genes and characterization of such genes will not only enable us to determine their role in normal cellular processes, but also in the development and progression of many disease states, including cancer."

The researchers have succeeded in isolating several new FGF immediate-early genes and one of these encodes a novel transcription factor that is differentially expressed in human breast tumours and plays a critical role in mediating cellular responses to growth factors. "Our work is focused on the molecular characterization of these immediate-early genes and the mechanisms by which they regulate growth factor responses including cell proliferation, cell differentiation and oncogenic transformation," said Dr. Gillespie.

For further information, please contact Dr. Laura Gillespie using the Email contact form or by phone at 709 777-6293