UTMThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center · Biomedical Engineering
Tumor Microbiome Research Lab
Lauren Elizabeth Colbert · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Lauren Colbert's lab focuses on understanding the role of specific bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus iners, in cervical cancer. The lab investigates how these bacteria influence cancer cell behavior and patient outcomes, aiming to develop new therapies that target the tumor microbiome. This research is especially important for improving treatment options for underserved populations affected by cervical cancer.
Lactobacillus inerscervical cancertumor microbiometreatment resistancemetabolic reprogramming
Research Aims
3AIM 01Understand how Lactobacillus iners influences cancer cell metabolism.
AIM 02Examine the immune response to Lactobacillus iners in cervical tumors.
AIM 03Develop therapies to target tumor-associated bacteria for cancer treatment.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemass cytometryproximity proteomicsanimal modelsimmunohistochemistrybioreactor techniquesmicrobiome analysismetabolic assaysclinical trial design
Output against the department
Publications260top 37% of dept.222nd of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.1kbottom 14% of dept.509th of 595
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.