Khurshid Lab

Home Researchers and Labs Khurshid Lab
Print

Primary Research Focus

The Khurshid Lab investigates differential alternative splicing in tumors compared to control tissues, focusing on how metabolic starvation and other factors within the tumor microenvironment influence the splicing of various genes. The lab’s researchers are also interested in understanding how RNA-binding proteins respond to these stress conditions and are modified to drive tumorigenesis. The Khurshid Lab’s long-term goal is to enhance the understanding of alternative splicing in cancer and use this information to tackle tumors that are recurrent, therapy-resistant and/or metastatic.

 

Primary Research Group

Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies

Secondary Research Groups

About Safiya Khurshid, Assistant Scientist

Safiya Khurshid, PhD, is a trained cancer biologist focused on advancing tumor biology to drive drug development and innovative cancer therapies. Her expertise in cancer genetics, tumor microenvironment, RNA biology, and alternative splicing equips her with a robust technical skill set and a deep understanding of cancer complexities. In the lab, Dr. Khurshid and her team leverage this knowledge to dissect tumor intricacies and design novel therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Khurshid earned her PhD from the University of Cologne in Germany and conducted postdoctoral research in conjunction with the Ohio State University through the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Professional Affiliations

  • American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 
  • RNA Society

Lab Projects and News

Elucidate alternative splicing deregulation in tumor cells under metabolic starvation and design SSOs to restore them

Tumor microenvironmental factors such as metabolic starvation and hypoxia can alter gene splicing, producing isoforms that may enhance tumorigenesis. The Khurshid Lab’s objective is to identify these specific isoforms and design splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) to target the pre-mRNA, aiming to restore normal splicing patterns and mitigate tumorigenic properties.

Investigate the role of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in metabolic starvation

Metabolic starvation modifies the expression, phosphorylation and localization of RNA-binding proteins, influencing alternative splicing and regulating multiple aspects of tumorigenesis. The Khurshid Lab’s goal is to analyze and understand these RBP dynamics and map their binding patterns on pre-mRNA in both control and metabolically starved tumor environments.

Analyze patient data to map the splicing landscape in pediatric cancer samples

By leveraging publicly available short- and long-read sequencing data from pediatric cancer patient samples, the Khurshid Lab can apply advanced bioinformatics tools to identify alternative splicing events and RNA-binding protein expression changes. This analysis reveals differentially spliced genes in tumors, which are further investigated in the lab as potential therapeutic targets.