Enrique Abarca Ríos – Secondment in Cambridge
- Post by: fantom
- 17 November 2025
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From June to September 2025, I completed a secondment at the Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, in Prof. Suzanne Turner’s Group, where I focused on the functional validation of candidate genes implicated in acquired resistance to ALK inhibitors in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).
During this period, I applied a broad range of molecular and cell biology techniques to expand on my previous findings regarding the role of GPX4-mediated suppression of ferroptosis in the development of resistance to ALK inhibitors. In particular, I optimized the CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) three-vector system that I am using to achieve targeted overexpression of GPX4 and assess its impact on ALK inhibitor sensitivity. In parallel, I designed and cloned multiple tetracycline-inducible shRNAs against GPX4 in lentiviral vectors, establishing a complementary knockdown system that serves as a rescue model for the overexpression studies.
This secondment significantly strengthened my expertise in gene editing, functional genomics, and molecular cloning, while also enhancing my problem-solving, project management, and cross-cultural collaboration skills.
Working in Prof. Turner’s lab provided an exceptional opportunity to exchange knowledge and refine experimental approaches in a leading environment for translational cancer research, contributing to the overarching goals of the FANTOM Doctoral Network to elucidate and overcome resistance mechanisms in ALK-driven malignancies.
