Harvard Catalyst Profiles

Brandeis University, Waltham, MA	BA	05/1995	Chemistry
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI	Ph.D.	12/1999	Analytical Chemistry
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA	PostDoc	04/2002	Proteomics

Research activities in the Asara lab focusses on the development of merging tri-omics (proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics) data. We apply these methods for a personalized medicine approach by analyzing cancer cells and tumor samples in order help make appropriate therapeutic decisions with "smart" drugs. This is accomplished by understanding how cancer cells are signaling for growth and proliferation and how signaling talks to metabolic processes in order to develop mass spec quantitative assays. We are developing hypothesis directed proteomics and gloabl metabolomics and lipidomics strategies to understand the fundamental drivers of disease in cancers such as multiple myeloma, lung cancer and prostate cancer by performing protein-protein interaction studies, immunoprecipitation (IP)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), quantitative phosphoproteomics, metabolic and lipidomic profiling as well as metabolic flux analyses. Taken together, this information is vital in selecting the appropriate use of newly developed drugs. In addition to our internal research, we are involved in many collaborative projects that are coordinated through our state-of-the-art high resolution mass spectrometry technologies and services through our mass spectrometry facility.

• Lipidomics
• Metabolomics
• Proteomics
• Mass Spectrometry
• Stable Isotope Labeling
• Phosphoproteins