Speaker: Dr Zeyad Nassar, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Prostate Cancer Research Group, SAHMRI
Title: Androgenic Regulation of Lipid Elongation in Prostate Cancer
Chair: Dr Irene Zinonos, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Breast Cancer Research Unit, Discipline of Surgery, University of Adelaide. Located Level 1 BHI, TQEH. [email protected]
Speaker biography: Dr Zeyad Nassar graduated with a BSc in Pharmacy (2007) from the Applied Science University, Amman, Jordan. Dr Nassar was also awarded a Master’s Degree in Pharmacology (2011) from The University Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. Then he was awarded a PhD in Pharmacology (2015) from The University of Queensland, Australia. He is currently working as postdoctoral research scientist at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), under supervision of A/Prof Lisa Butler.
About the talk: Lipids are a class of molecules that make up cell membranes and are an important source of energy for cells. Changes in lipids occur during prostate cancer progression, most prominently in a process called lipid elongation, which requires enzymes called elongases. My work is seeking to better understand the consequences of lipid elongation on the growth and migration of prostate cancer cells, its potential role in resistance to current hormonal therapies such as enzalutamide, and whether the elongase enzymes can be targeted for new prostate cancer therapies.