Carla Concepcion Crisol
Job Description
Carla Concepcion, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Therapeutics and a member of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Concepcion received her BS in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology from the University of the Philippines in Manila. She obtained her PhD from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University where she studied microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer and development in the lab of Dr. Andrea Ventura at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Concepcion did her postdoctoral training with Dr. Tyler Jacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she focused on the mechanisms through which alterations in SMARCA4, a core catalytic component of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes, transform the chromatin landscape and drive tumorigenesis in the lung. Dr. Concepcion began her independent research program at the Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Therapeutics at CUIMC in 2022. Her lab seeks to understand how altered chromatin states contribute to cell fates as tumors evolve with the goal of developing hypothesis-driven therapeutic strategies.
Mammalian SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes are a heterogeneous group of complexes that have key roles in development and disease. Genes encoding for their subunits are among the most frequent targets of mutation in diverse cancer types – highlighting their central role in human cancer. However, the distinct mechanisms through which specific mutations facilitate malignant transformation and support tumor evolution are still poorly understood. This reflects the complexity of SWI/SNF biology given the heterogeneity of these complexes and the diversity and cell type-specificity of their functions. We seek to understand the functions of these complexes in lung cancer and the mechanisms through which alterations in genes encoding for their subunits contribute to tumorigenesis.
Our research is at the intersection of cancer and chromatin biology. We aim to answer broad questions in the field through the lens of SWI/SNF biology: 1) How do specific SWI/SNF mutations alter the chromatin landscape to facilitate malignant transformation? 2) Which gene regulatory programs are co-opted by SWI/SNF-mutant tumors throughout the course of tumor evolution? 3) What genetic dependencies or targetable features arise in SWI/SNF-mutant lung cancers? Altogether, these will provide broad insights into how altered chromatin states contribute to cell fates as tumors evolve.
Our group uses genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), organoids, and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) as model systems. We leverage cutting-edge technologies in gene editing, chromatin profiling, transcriptomics, and proteomics to determine the functional consequences of SWI/SNF mutations during tumor evolution. We believe that the generation of relevant preclinical models combined with a robust mechanistic understanding of SWI/SNF biology in lung cancer will result in the development of hypothesis-driven therapeutic strategies that can be used to effectively treat patients with lung cancers harboring these mutations.
Beyond our work at the bench, we consciously strive to cultivate a supportive lab environment, provide intentional mentorship for each lab member, and have fun while doing science!
We are actively seeking postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to join our team!
