Eucaryotic cell regulation mechanisms (signalomics) Elucidation of mechanisms of anticancer drug Drug repurposing to treat cancer Nanomaterials for therapy Cancer protein markers Proteomics, kinome, phosphoproteomics
Present Position:
Research Professor, Vilnius University, Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biochemistry
Education:
1986 - MSc - Vilnius University 1998 - PhD - Vilnius University. PhD thesis defended "The role of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor Binding Proteins in the Regulation of Cell Growth”
Experience (Past Positions):
1985–1994 - research assistant, Institute of Biochemistry 1994–1999 - researcher, Head of the Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biochemistry 2000–2011 - researcher, Head of the Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biochemistry (from 2010 – Vilnius University Institute of Biochemistry) 2011–2020 - senior researcher, Head of the Proteomics Center, Vilnius University Institute of Biochemistry 2020–present, research professor, Head of the Proteomics Center, Vilnius University Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center 2022–present, research professor, EMBL Partnership Institute, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University
Eukaryotic Cell Proteomics and Cell Regulation, VU LSC, MSc programme (English) OMICs technologies (Proteomics), VU LSC, BSc programme (English, Lithuanian) Proteomics, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, MSc programme (English) Molecular biology of cell signalling, VU LSC (English, Lithuanian)
Supervision of Doctoral Students:
Supervisor of one doctoral student presently.
PhD theses defended: 2020 - Nadežda Dreižė, "Elucidation of the complexity of molecular mechanisms of cancer cell drug resistance to enhance treatment efficiency". 2009 - Marija Ger, “The mechanism and the role of adaptor protein Nck interaction with p120 Ras GTPase-activating protein in Ras regulation”.
Awards:
Volkswagenstiftung Foundation Donation “The role of acid and neutral sphingomyelinase and ceramidase in the mitogenic signaling of the receptor for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFR)”, 1998
National Cancer Center, LT Vilnius University hospital Santaros klinikos, LT North Carolina University, USA University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, USA
Projects and Grants:
2023–2025 The innovative method for identifying signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer for the selection of individualized therapy with repurposed targeted drugs (KDA-omika). The Foundation for the Future Biomedicine; Head of Project. 2022–2023 Proteomic analysis of genome engineered therapeutic cells – CAR-NK, Associated Research Fellowship with VU LSC-EMBL Partnership Institute; Group leader. 2020–2023 “Center for genetical modelling of laboratory animals” (01.2.2-CPVA-K-703-03-0032); Central Project Management Agency; Group leader. 2020–2021 “Development of novel proteomics-based drug selection approach for pancreatic cancer individualized therapy” (DiaKasa2; S-SEN-20-16); Research Council of Lithuania; Group leader. 2018–2022 “Designing of the patient-specific, heterogeneous lung cancer cell ex vivo model system for drug efficiency prediction in personalized oncotherapy” (Nr. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718-01-0072); Research Council of Lithuania; executor. 2016–2018 “New multifunctional nanobiosensor for early pancreatic cancer diagnostics” (DiaKASA SEN-01/2016); Research Council of Lithuania; Group leader. 2015–2018 “Investigation of synthesis regulation of proteins associated with Alzheimer disease development”, Research Council of Lithuania; Group leader. 2015–2018 “Novel biomarkers for individualized therapy of colon cancer: proteomics, microRNomics and clinics” (PROMa; SEN-17/2015), Research Council of Lithuania; Group leader. 2014–2016 “High throughput proteomics for cancer cell surface protein recognition by quantum Dots” (SUREDOT; MIP-033/2014); Research Council of Lithuania; Head of the Project. 2012–2014 "Biotechnology and biopharmacy: fundamental and applied research" (VP1-3.1-ŠMM-08-K-01-005); Research Council of Lithuania; Group leader. 2012–2013 “Creation of biologically active regular three-dimensional structures for tissue molecular bioengineering” (BIO-MATRIX); Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology; Group leader. 2011–2015 “Molecular mechanisms of chinones and polychinones in the redox reactions, cytotoxicity, signal transduction and proteomics” (VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-01-103,); Research Council of Lithuania; Group leader. 2007 “The study of Ras protooncogen on intracellular trafficking by confocal microscopy” (T-52/07), State Studies Foundation; Head of the Project. 2006–2008 "Development of Proteomics Research Infrastructure" BPD2004-ERPF-1.5.0-01-04/0061, EU Structural Funds; Head of the Project. 2005–2006 “Development of molecular markers for individualized cancer therapy” (B-05012), Research Council of Lithuania; Head of the Project. 2005 “Functional and proteomic analysis of tumor controlling protein kinase D” (T-05273), Research Council of Lithuania; Head of the Project. 2001–2003 “Complex diagnostics for Individualized therapy at the level of cancer cell gene expression”, Research Council of Lithuania; Group leader. 2001–2004 “Localization of molecules that regulate immunocompetent cell functioning” (K-040) Research Council of Lithuania; Group leader. 1998–2000 “The role of acid and neutral sphingomyelinase and ceramidase in the mitogenic signaling of the receptor for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFR)”, Volkswagen Foundation, Cooperation with Natural and Engineering Scientist in Central and Eastern Europe, Head of the Project. 1997–2000 “A novel lipoamino acid based system for peptide delivery: application for administering TT-232, a new tumor-selective somatostatin analog” European Commission, COPERNICUS, Group leader.
Improvement of Qualification, Certificates:
1992–1995 National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA 1996–1997 Leuven Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium 1999–2000 Institute of Immunology, Kiel, Germany 2000–2005 Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden
Research Dissemination:
Invited Oral Presentations: 2022 - Inaugural Symposium of CNRS (FR) and LT Scientists "Proteomics for the elucidation of anticancer drug resistance and drug repurposing". 2021 - Life Sciences Baltics International Forum "Molecular mechanisms of anticancer drug resistance".
