Monika Rak PhD

Monika Rak PhD

Assistant Professor

Dr. Monika Rak’s research include basic and translational research in non-viral DNA/RNA delivery as well as cancer development, progression, and therapies. A majority of her work has focused on innovative lipofection systems and vaccines carriers. Additionally, she engaged in research exploring cancer cell migration, invasiveness and epigenetic therapies. Her current project topic is the role of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) in the development and progression of glioblastoma. Research approach includes in silico, in vitro and in vivo.

ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4746-944X

Selected Publications:

-Rak M, Góra-Sochacka A, MadejaZ. Lipofection-Based Delivery of DNA Vaccines. Methods Mol Biol.2021;2183:391-404. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0795-4_20. Blaine Pfeifer and AndrewHill (Eds): Vaccine Delivery Technology.

-Rak M, Ochałek A, Gawarecka K,Masnyk M, Chmielewski M, Chojnacki T, Swiezewska E, Madeja Z. Boost of serum resistance and storage stability in cationic polyprenyl-based lipofection byhelper lipids compositions. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2020; S0939-6411(20)30228-9.doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.07.028.

-Ramakrishnan S, Granger V, RakM, Hu Q, Attwood K, Aquila L, Krishnan N, Osiecki R, Azabdaftari G, Guru K,Chatta G, Gueron G, McNally L, Ohm J, Wang J, Woloszynska A. Inhibition of EZH2induces NK cell-mediated differentiation and death in muscle-invasive bladdercancer. Cell Death Differ. 2019 Oct;26(10):2100-2114.

-Stalinska J, Houser L, Rak M,Colley SB, Reiss K, Jursic BS. Exploring anticancer activity of structurally modified benzylphenoxyacetamide (BPA); I: Synthesis strategies and computational analyses of substituted BPA variants with high anti-glioblastoma potential. Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 19;9(1):17021.

Keywords: Gene transfer, vaccines delivery, cancer invasiveness, Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs)

LCRC Faculty

Edward Trapido ScD FACE
Population Sciences
LSU Health - New Orleans
Tung-Sung Tseng MS DrPH
Population Sciences
LSU Health - New Orleans
Fern Tsien PhD
Molecular Genetics
LSU Health - New Orleans
For Yue Tso PhD
Genes X Environment
LSU Health - New Orleans
Nate Ungerleider, PhD
Genes X Environment
Tulane University School of Medicine
Brigham Cody Walker, PhD
Population Sciences
Tulane University School of Medicine
Guangdi Wang PhD
Translational Oncology
Xavier University
Xianfeng Wang, PhD
Translational Oncology
Tulane University School of Medicine
Terry J. Watt PhD
Cancer Biology
Xavier University