Johns Hopkins University · BiochemistryWeeraratna Lab
Ashani T Weeraratna · Baltimore, Maryland
Research Focus
Dr. Ashani T Weeraratna's lab focuses on understanding how aging affects melanoma, particularly the way dormant cancer cells can reactivate and spread. The research examines how aged tissues impact tumor behavior and treatment resistance through specific signaling pathways. This work aims to identify new strategies to prevent cancer recurrence, especially in older patients, enhancing the effectiveness of existing therapies.
melanomatumor dormancyagingWnt signalingimmunosuppressionmetastasiscancer therapy resistancefibroblastsmyeloid-derived suppressor cells
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how aging influences the reactivation of dormant melanoma cells.
AIM 02Examine the role of Wnt signaling pathways in tumor dormancy and resistance.
AIM 03Identify how aged fibroblasts alter immune responses to melanoma.
AIM 04Explore the impact of host factors, including sex, on melanoma progression.
AIM 05Develop therapeutic strategies targeting the aging microenvironment to prevent cancer recurrence.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsflow cytometryWestern blotRNA sequencing3D tumor modelingimmunological assaysmolecular signaling analysis
Output against the department
Publications654top 5% of dept.22nd of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations18ktop 23% of dept.94th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.