Damon Runyon Researchers

A majority of pancreatic cancer cases harbor a mutation in the KRAS gene, which is involved in cancer initiation, progression, and chemotherapy resistance. Drugs targeting KRAS mutations are often met with resistance due to limited drug penetration into the tumor. Since pancreatic cancer progression involves increased tissue stiffening, KRAS signaling might be controlled by tissue stiffness. Dr. Jain is studying the mechanisms that underlie tissue stiffness-dependent KRAS signaling at the molecular level. Understanding these mechanisms will uncover new ways to block aberrant KRAS signaling or reduce the effects of tissue stiffness on cancer progression, ultimately informing new combination therapies with KRAS-targeting drugs. Dr. Jain received his PhD from the National University of Singapore, Singapore and his BTech and MTech from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.