Spring 2025 Grantee Highlight:
Kevin Gardner

Kevin Gardner, PhD
Director, Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center

Cancer progression depends on the ability of malignant cells to extract nutrients and oxygen from the bloodstream—processes tightly regulated by specific cellular proteins. Unlike normal cells, which activate these regulators only when needed, cancer cells keep them persistently active to drive tumor growth and spread.

Their project, led by the Kevin Gardner Lab (CUNY) in collaboration with Dr. Joseph Garcia (Columbia University/VA), investigates two key families of regulatory proteins: Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) and Early Growth Response (Egr) proteins. Their integrated research combines biochemical, biophysical, and cell biological approaches to reveal how HIF proteins bind DNA, interact with known and novel partners like Egr, and influence cancer cell behavior.

By uncovering these mechanisms, the team aims to develop precise tools to study HIF function, deepen understanding of cancer cell growth, and lay the groundwork for new therapeutic strategies.