With a new grant from the Danish Cancer Society, Naziia Kurmasheva is able to continue her research at the Department of Biomedicine for the next three years. Here, she will examine the possibilities of using oncolytic virotherapy as an alternative therapeutic strategy for treating multi-drug resistant lung cancers.

“My research connects the fields of cell biology, virology, immunology, cancer biology and tissue engineering. Together with my colleagues, I investigate the interaction between basic cellular functions such as energy supply and immune responses in healthy cells and in cancer cells, respectively,” explains Naziia Kurmasheva and elaborates:

“Immunometabolic changes in cancer cells might present a barrier for conventional treatments, and a better understanding of these changes might therefore create opportunities for innovative strategies towards improved therapies.”

Naziia Kurmasheva’s research may initially impact colleagues in the scientific community and the clinical personnel developing alternative treatment options for drug-resistant cancer diseases. Long-term, she hopes that the research will help lung cancer patients have a functional alternative treatment where traditional therapies fail.

The Young Talented Cancer Researchers grant totals DKK 2.325.000 over three years.

Contact
Postdoc and PhD Naziia Kurmasheva
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Email: naziia@biomed.au.dk