The mission of Benej Lab is to study the role of tumor microenvironment, especially tumor hypoxia, in modulating the response to conventional anti-cancer treatment strategies. The metabolic cross-talk between tumor, stromal and immune cells undergoing oxygen and metabolite stress has a major role in facilitating treatment resistance by dictating the gene expression and chromatin modification patterns. We are developing pharmacological and genetic strategies to modulate tumor oxygenation levels in mouse models to discover novel synergistic therapies to address anti-cancer treatment resistance. 

Meet the Team:

Martin Benej, PhD

Dr. Martin Benej is Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics and the principal investigator of the lab. He is a member of the Cancer Biology Program at the OSUCCC – James and of the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO); and a member of the American Association for Cancer Research. Dr. Benej is a co-holder of two U.S. patents related to biomedical research; one is for pharmacological reoxygenation of tumor microenvironment to achieve radiosensitization and the other one for development of novel derivatives of papaverine to sensitize hypoxic tumors to immunotherapy. He published 13 research papers and received numerous awards.

Kate Benejova

Kate Benejova, M.S. is the Lab Manager and Senior Research Associate in the Benej Lab. Kate has a master’s degree in Molecular Biology and co-authored 7 research articles, which amassed close to 500 citations. 

Rebecca Lisi

Rebecca Lisi, B.S. is a Research Technician in the Benej Lab. Rebecca recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Genetics and a minor in Clinical Psychology.

Funding:

Our work is supported by NCI grants R03CA280489 and K22CA282363; and by OSUCCC Start-up Funding.