Petra C. Buchanan, Ph.D.
- Postdoctoral Fellow
Contact Information
Education
Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany Diplom, Biology (equivalent to M.S.), 2009
Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany Dr. rer. nat. in Biology (equivalent to Ph.D.), 2011
Biography
Petra joined the lab in 2012 as a postdoctoral researcher and Assistant Specialist. Prior to joining the Alaoui lab at UCSF, she earned her Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.) in 2011 and her M.S. (Dipl. Biol.) in 2009, both from the Friedrich-Alexander-University in Germany. Her dissertation investigated the immunogenic potential of colorectal tumor cells after treatment with X-radiation and hyperthermia. It showed that the combined treatment induces an immune activating tumor microenvironment, through increased amounts of immunogenic necrotic cell death, the release of danger signals, and the activation of dendritic cells in an HSP70-dependent manner.
Research Overview
Dr. Buchanan's research focus is the investigation of novel biomarkers for the early detection of lung cancer, including the quantification and characterization of extracellular sulfatases (SULFs), their heparan sulfate proteoglycan substrates, and heparin-binding factors in NSCLC patients.