The Fernandez lab at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy is working to prevent leukemia relapse caused by an immune response to asparginase treatment in children. The National Cancer Institute has awarded Fernandez a grant to identify pharmacological strategies that can mitigate the severity of the toxicity from the immune reaction. The Fernandez lab has linked the NFAT pathway to the risk of developing the immune response and will investigate potential drug targets for preventing the toxicity. They will also develop cell-based tests to identify patients at risk of developing this toxicity.
Christian Fernandez, PhD is an assistant professor in Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a member of the Center for Pharmacogenetics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy.
