The Tammela lab is interested in understanding the remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity of cancer cells within tumors. We approach this question using a combination of sophisticated genetically engineered mouse models, single cell transcriptomics, tracing and ablation of distinct tumor cell lineages, CRISPR-mediated gene regulation, and advanced imaging techniques. We utilize the exceptional resources developed by our MSK collaborators, such as organoids and xenografts, for the translation of our findings into new treatments for human cancer. Our goal is to discover pathways that drive distinct cellular phenotypes and to develop new therapeutic concepts aimed at reducing cellular heterogeneity in tumors.
Tuomas Tammela, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Research Focus
Cancer biologist Tuomas Tammela investigates cellular heterogeneity in lung, pancreatic and colon cancers.Education
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Postdoctoral Fellowship
- University of Helsinki, Finland: MD, PhD
Lab Members
Jason Chan
Clinical Fellow
Olivera Grbovic-Huezo
Research Lab manager
Griffin Hartmann
Senior Research Technician
Emily B. Johnson
Administrative Assistant
Xueqian Zhuang
Postdoctoral Fellow
Publications
- Tammela T, Sanchez-Rivera FJ, Malli-Cetinbas N, Joshi NS, Helenius K, Park YK, Azimi R, Wu K, Kerper NR, Wesselhoeft RA, Gu X, Schmidt L, Cornwall-Brady M, Yilmaz ÖH, Xue W, Katajisto P, Bhutkar A, and Jacks T. A Wnt-producing niche maintains proliferative potential and drives tumor progression in lung adenocarcinoma. Nature, 545:355-359 (2017).
- Roper J*, Tammela T*, Cetinbas N, Akkad A, Almeqdadi M, Wu K, Sánchez-Rivera F, Rickelt S, Park Y, Liang X, Oberli M, Eng G, Roghanian A, Azimi R, Kedrin D., Neupane R., Beyaz S., Sicinska E.T., Bass A., Suarez Y., Yoo J., Chen L., Taylor M.S., Zukerberg L., Katajisto P., Lees J., Deshpande V., Chen J., Hynes R.O., Langer R., Bhutkar A.J., Jacks T., Yilmaz. Ö.H. Epithelial genome editing and orthotopic transplantation models of sequential mutagenesis in colorectal cancer. Nature Biotechnology, 3:569–576 (2017).
Selected Achievements
- NCI/NIH K99 Transition to Independence Award
- European Research Council Starter Grant
- Josie Robertson Young Investigator Award
- The Werner Risau Prize