{"id":3,"date":"2018-07-17T01:58:34","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T01:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/homepage\/"},"modified":"2024-07-23T18:47:03","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T18:47:03","slug":"homepage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/","title":{"rendered":"Tumor and Tissue Microenvironment Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-316\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/IMG_1635-1-e1721760334665-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1635 (1)\" width=\"424\" height=\"656\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/IMG_1635-1-e1721760334665-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/IMG_1635-1-e1721760334665-768x1189.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/IMG_1635-1-e1721760334665-661x1024.jpg 661w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 424px) 100vw, 424px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Our lab is&nbsp;interested in combining engineering and cancer biology concepts to examine the mechanisms driving tumor recurrence and metastasis. We study the relationship between tumor cells, normal tissues, and the immune system as a means of understanding the microenvironment to determine how each component contributes to metastasis and relapse after therapy. Our laboratory aims to develop bio-inspired hydrogel materials and&nbsp;<em>in vitro<\/em>&nbsp;tumor- and tissue-on-a-chip models by learning from&nbsp;<em>in vivo<\/em>&nbsp;mouse models. Specifically, we study: (1) the collateral effect of radiation and surgery of normal tissues on tumor and immune cell migration patterns; (2) the molecular profiles of normal tissues wounded from therapy; and (3) the changes in the biomechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment and surrounding normal tissues following therapy. We will analyze the physical, chemical, and biological cues that influence cancer metastasis and recurrence at the interface of engineering and medicine. These studies will ultimately enable the design of optimized cancer therapeutics.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-293 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/lab-2023-300x279.jpg\" alt=\"lab 2023\" width=\"527\" height=\"490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/lab-2023-300x279.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/lab-2023-768x714.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/lab-2023-1024x951.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-263 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/Rafat-Lab-2022-2-300x177.jpeg\" alt=\"Rafat Lab 2022\" width=\"567\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/Rafat-Lab-2022-2-300x177.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/Rafat-Lab-2022-2-768x453.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/Rafat-Lab-2022-2-1024x604.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/Rafat-Lab-2022-2.jpeg 1579w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-210\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/DSC_8449_edit1-300x210.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_8449_edit\" width=\"614\" height=\"430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/DSC_8449_edit1-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/DSC_8449_edit1-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/DSC_8449_edit1-1024x717.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-232\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/Screenshot-23-300x182.png\" alt=\"Screenshot (23)\" width=\"565\" height=\"343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/Screenshot-23-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/Screenshot-23-768x465.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/Screenshot-23-1024x620.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/publishedcontent\/images\/images\/design-elements\/logos\/nci-logo-full.__v1.svg\" alt=\"National Cancer Institute\" width=\"558\" height=\"53\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-224\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/BCAlogo-300x151.jpg\" alt=\"Layout 1\" width=\"211\" height=\"106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/BCAlogo-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/BCAlogo-768x385.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/BCAlogo-1024x514.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/BCAlogo.jpg 1588w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-231\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/ConcernFoundation.NEW_.logo_.2020_RGB-1-300x95.jpg\" alt=\"ConcernFoundation.NEW.logo.2020_RGB (1)\" width=\"300\" height=\"95\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/ConcernFoundation.NEW_.logo_.2020_RGB-1-300x95.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/ConcernFoundation.NEW_.logo_.2020_RGB-1-768x242.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/ConcernFoundation.NEW_.logo_.2020_RGB-1-1024x323.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-251\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/ViNSE-logo.jpg\" alt=\"ViNSE logo\" width=\"89\" height=\"90\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-248\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/NSF-logo.jpg\" alt=\"NSF logo\" width=\"140\" height=\"141\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-249\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/ACS-logo.png\" alt=\"ACS logo\" width=\"199\" height=\"119\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-274\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/metavivor-300x98.png\" alt=\"metavivor\" width=\"300\" height=\"98\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/metavivor-300x98.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.vanderbilt.edu\/t2-my\/my-prd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2856\/2018\/07\/metavivor.png 708w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our lab is&nbsp;interested in combining engineering and cancer biology concepts to examine the mechanisms driving tumor recurrence and metastasis. We study the relationship between tumor cells, normal tissues, and the immune system as a means of understanding the microenvironment to determine how each component contributes to metastasis and relapse after therapy. Our laboratory aims to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7589,"featured_media":15,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7589"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":317,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3\/revisions\/317"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/rafatlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}