Dr Ralf Zwacka
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Email
rzwacka@essex.ac.uk -
Location
3SW.5.15, Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
2005 - 2013 Lecturer, National University of Ireland Galway, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, Ireland 2001 - 2005 Group Leader, Division of Gene Therapy, University of Ulm, Germany 1997 - 2001 Lecturer, University of Edinburgh, Dept. of Oncology 1995 - 1997 Post-doctoral fellow, University of Pennsylvania, Institute for Human Gene Therapy, USA 1990 - 1995 Ph.D., Open University and Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany 1988 - 1990 B.Sc. in Biochemistry, University of Manchester (UMIST) 1985 - 1988 Undergraduate courses in Biochemistry and Economics, Free University Berlin, Germany Prostate Cancer UK funded project: trail.essex.ac.uk/ Research Students Yasamin Mehrabadi /bs/staff/profile.aspx?ID=4048 Sylwia Jencz /bs/staff/profile.aspx?ID=4757 Tianyuan Chu /people/chuti18802/tianyuan-chu Natalia Krajewska /people/kraje47600/natalia-krajewska
Qualifications
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BSc
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PhD
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MBA
Research and professional activities
Research interests
Mesenchymal stem cells and cancer therapy
Apoptosis pathways and treatment resistance mechansims in cancer
Cell death regulation in stem cells
Redox-regulated pathways in cancer and stem cells
Current research
We study the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as gene delivery vehicles and their role in tumour progression and metastasis development
We try to better understand apoptosis in stem cells and cancer cells and how it is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms including miRNAs and other non-coding RNAs in order to protect stem cells in inflammatory settings and during the aging process
We aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of TRAIL- and chemotherapy-induced cell death and to identify molecular resistance points in tumour cells with the goal to find better diagnostic tools and new therapeutic approaches
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Stem Cell Biology and Ageing (BS331)
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Molecular Basis of Cancer (BS349)
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Advanced Cancer Biology (BS932)
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Molecular Mechanisms of Disease (BS938)
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Advanced Research Skills (BS953)
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Professional Skills and the Business of Biosciences (BS985)
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Issues in Biomedical Science (BS306)
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Research Project: MSc Molecular Medicine (BS986)
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Chemistry for Biology (IA123)
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Research Project in Biomedical Science (BS831)
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Research Project in Life Sciences (BS832)
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Biomedical Science: Practice and Employability (BS214)
Current supervision
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Molecular Medicine
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 24/8/2022
Degree subject: Molecular Medicine
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 19/11/2021
Degree subject: Cell and Molecular Biology
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 3/11/2020
Degree subject: Cell and Molecular Biology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 16/7/2020
Degree subject: Cell and Molecular Biology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 5/2/2019
Publications
Journal articles (59)
Gundersen, RA., Chu, T., Abolfathi, K., Gokcen Dogan, S., Blair, PE., Nago, N., Hamblin, M., Brooke, GN., Zwacka, RM., Kafash Hoshiar, A. and Mohr, A., (2023). . Cancer Nanotechnology. 14 (1), 54-
Mohr, A., Chu, T., Clarkson, C., Brooke, G., Teif, V. and Zwacka, R., (2021). . Cancer Letters. 519, 63-77
Leach, DA., Mohr, A., Giotis, ES., Cil, E., Isac, AM., Yates, LL., Barclay, WS., Zwacka, RM., Bevan, CL. and Brooke, GN., (2021). . Nature Communications. 12 (1), 4068-
Leach, DA., Mohr, A., Zwacka, R., Giottis, S., Yates, L., Lloyd, C., Brooke, GN. and Bevan, CL., (2021). Antiandrogens Target TMPRSS2 and Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Virus Entry in Lung Cells. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 5 (S1), A60-A61
Mohr, A., Chu, T., Brooke, GN. and Zwacka, RM., (2019). . Cancers. 11 (4), 568-568
Mohr, A., Deedigan, L., Jencz, S., Mehrabadi, Y., Houlden, L., Albarenque, S-M. and Zwacka, RM., (2018). . Cell Death and Differentiation. 25 (2), 340-352
Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2018). . Cancer Letters. 414, 239-249
Weiher, H., Pircher, H., Jansen-D眉rr, P., Hegenbarth, S., Knolle, P., Grunau, S., Vapola, M., Hiltunen, JK., Zwacka, RM., Schmelzer, E., Reumann, K. and Will, H., (2016). . BMC Research Notes. 9 (1), 128-
Mohr, A., Yu, R. and Zwacka, RM., (2015). . BMC Cancer. 15 (1), 494-
Yu, R., Albarenque, SM., Cool, RH., Quax, WJ., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2014). . Cancer Biology & Therapy. 15 (12), 1658-1666
Yu, R., Deedigan, L., Albarenque, SM., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2013). . Cell Death & Disease. 4 (2), e503-e503
B眉neker, CK., Yu, R., Deedigan, L., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2012). . Cancer Letters. 316 (2), 168-177
Albarenque, SM., Zwacka, RM. and Mohr, A., (2011). . Stem Cell Research. 7 (2), 163-171
Mohr, A., Albarenque, SM., Deedigan, L., Yu, R., Reidy, M., Fulda, S. and Zwacka, RM., (2010). . Stem Cells. 28 (11), 2109-2120
Stadel, D., Mohr, A., Ref, C., MacFarlane, M., Zhou, S., Humphreys, R., Bachem, M., Cohen, G., M枚ller, P., Zwacka, RM., Debatin, K-M. and Fulda, S., (2010). . Clinical Cancer Research. 16 (23), 5734-5749
J盲ger, R. and Zwacka, RM., (2010). The Enigmatic Roles of Caspases in Tumor Development. Cancers. 2 (4), 1952-1979
Zwacka, (2009). . Oncology Reports. 21 (5), 1289-1295
Mohr, A., B眉neker, C., Gough, RP. and Zwacka, RM., (2008). . Oncogene. 27 (6), 763-774
Murray, TVA., McMahon, JM., Howley, BA., Stanley, A., Ritter, T., Mohr, A., Zwacka, R. and Fearnhead, HO., (2008). . Journal of Cell Science. 121 (22), 3786-3793
Mohr, A., Lyons, M., Deedigan, L., Harte, T., Shaw, G., Howard, L., Barry, F., O'Brien, T. and Zwacka, R., (2008). . Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 12 (6b), 2628-2643
Weiher, H. and Zwacka, RM., (2007). . Clinical Laboratory. 53 (1-2), 85-88
Mohr, A., Lyons, M., Mohr, W. and Zwacka, R., (2007). Gentherapeutische Strategien gegen das kolorektale Karzinom. DMW - Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift. 132 (11), 567-570
La Ferla-Br眉hl, K., Westhoff, MA., Karl, S., Kasperczyk, H., Zwacka, RM., Debatin, KM. and Fulda, S., (2007). . Oncogene. 26 (4), 571-582
Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2007). . Cell Biology International. 31 (5), 526-530
Mohr, A., Lyons, M., Mohr, W. and Zwacka, R., (2007). Gentherapeutische Strategien gegen das kolorektale Karzinom. TumorDiagnostik & Therapie. 28 (3), 129-132
Braeuer, SJ., Bu虉neker, C., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2006). . Molecular Cancer Research. 4 (10), 715-728
Behrend, L., Mohr, A., Dick, T. and Zwacka, RM., (2005). . Molecular and Cellular Biology. 25 (17), 7758-7769
Mohr, A., Zwacka, RM., Jarmy, G., B眉neker, C., Schrezenmeier, H., D枚hner, K., Beltinger, C., Wiesneth, M., Debatin, K-M. and Stahnke, K., (2005). . Oncogene. 24 (14), 2421-2429
Kasperczyk, H., La Ferla-Br眉hl, K., Westhoff, MA., Behrend, L., Zwacka, RM., Debatin, K-M. and Fulda, S., (2005). . Oncogene. 24 (46), 6945-6956
Mohr, A., Zwacka, RM., Debatin, K-M. and Stahnke, K., (2004). A novel method for the combined flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle and cytochrome c release. Cell Death & Differentiation. 11 (10), 1153-1154
Mohr, A., Henderson, G., Dudus, L., Herr, I., Kuerschner, T., Debatin, K-M., Weiher, H., Fisher, KJ. and Zwacka, RM., (2004). . Gene Therapy. 11 (6), 534-543
Behrend, L., Henderson, G. and Zwacka, RM., (2003). . Biochemical Society Transactions. 31 (6), 1441-1444
Zhou, W., Zhang, Y., Hosch, MS., Lang, A., Zwacka, RM. and Engelhardt, JF., (2001). . Hepatology. 33 (4), 902-914
Stark, LA., Din, FVN., Zwacka, RM. and Dunlop, MG., (2001). . The FASEB Journal. 15 (7), 1273-1275
Zanetti, M., Zwacka, RM., Engelhardt, JF., Katusic, ZS. and O鈥橞rien, T., (2001). . Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 21 (2), 195-200
Fritz, E., Friedl, AA., Zwacka, RM., Eckardt-Schupp, F. and Meyn, MS., (2000). . Molecular Biology of the Cell. 11 (8), 2605-2616
Zwacka, RM., Stark, L. and Dunlop, MG., (2000). . The Journal of Gene Medicine. 2 (5), 334-343
Zwacka, RM., Stark, L. and Dunlop, MG., (2000). NF-魏B kinetics predetermine TNF-伪 sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells. Journal of Gene Medicine. 2 (5), 334-343
Lam, EWN., Hammad, HM., Zwacka, R., Darby, CJ., Baumgardner, KR., Davidson, BL., Oberley, TD., Engelhardt, JF. and Oberley, LW., (2000). . Journal of Dental Research. 79 (6), 1410-1417
Fan, C., Zwacka, RM. and Engelhardt, JF., (1999). . Journal of Molecular Medicine. 77 (8), 577-592
Clozel, M., Hess, P., Fischli, W., L枚ffler, B., Zwacka, RM., Reuter, A. and Weiher, H., (1999). . Experimental Gerontology. 34 (8), 1007-1015
Brown, MR., Miller, FJ., Li, W-G., Ellingson, AN., Mozena, JD., Chatterjee, P., Engelhardt, JF., Zwacka, RM., Oberley, LW., Fang, X., Spector, AA. and Weintraub, NL., (1999). . Circulation Research. 85 (6), 524-533
Epperly, MW., Bray, JA., Krager, S., Berry, LM., Gooding, W., Engelhardt, JF., Zwacka, R., Travis, EL. and Greenberger, JS., (1999). . International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics. 43 (1), 169-181
Lam, EWN., Zwacka, R., Seftor, EA., Nieva, DRC., Davidson, BL., Engelhardt, JF., Hendrix, MJC. and Oberley, LW., (1999). . Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 27 (5-6), 572-579
Zwacka, RM., Zhang, Y., Zhou, W., Halldorson, J. and Engelhardt, JF., (1998). . Hepatology. 28 (4), 1022-1030
Woo, YJ., Zhang, JCL., Vijayasarathy, C., Zwacka, RM., Englehardt, JF., Gardner, TJ. and Sweeney, HL., (1998). . Circulation. 98 (19 SUPPL.), II255-II260
Zwacka, RM., Dudus, L., Epperly, MW., Greenberger, JS. and Engelhardt, JF., (1998). . Human Gene Therapy. 9 (9), 1381-1386
Reuter, A., Nestl, A., Zwacka, RM., Tuckermann, J., Waldherr, R., Wagner, E-M., H枚yhty盲, M., zum Gottesberge, AMM., Angel, P. and Weiher, H., (1998). . Molecular Biology of the Cell. 9 (7), 1675-1682
Zwacka, RM. and Dunlop, MG., (1998). . Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America. 12 (3), 595-615
Zwacka, RM., Zhou, W., Zhang, Y., Darby, CJ., Dudus, L., Halldorson, J., Oberley, L. and Engelhardt, JF., (1998). . Nature Medicine. 4 (6), 698-704
Fang, X., Weintraub, NL., Rios, CD., Chappell, DA., Zwacka, RM., Engelhardt, JF., Oberley, LW., Yan, T., Heistad, DD. and Spector, AA., (1998). . Circulation Research. 82 (12), 1289-1297
Gonzalez-Zulueta, M., Ensz, LM., Mukhina, G., Lebovitz, RM., Zwacka, RM., Engelhardt, JF., Oberley, LW., Dawson, VL. and Dawson, TM., (1998). . The Journal of Neuroscience. 18 (6), 2040-2055
Epperly, M., Bray, J., Kraeger, S., Zwacka, R., Engelhardt, J., Travis, E. and Greenberger, J., (1998). . Gene Therapy. 5 (2), 196-208
Zwacka, RM., Zhang, Y., Halldorson, J., Schlossberg, H., Dudus, L. and Engelhardt, JF., (1997). . Journal of Clinical Investigation. 100 (2), 279-289
M眉ller, M., Smolders, JWT., Meyer zum Gottesberge, AM., Reuter, A., Zwacka, RM., Weiher, H. and Klinke, R., (1997). . Hearing Research. 114 (1-2), 259-263
Lam, EWN., Zwacka, R., Engelhardt, JF., Davidson, BL., Domann, FE., Yan, T. and Oberley, LW., (1997). . Cancer Research. 57 (24), 5550-5556
Schenkel, J., Zwacka, RM., Rutenberg, C., Reuter, A., Waldherr, R. and Weiher, H., (1995). . Kidney International. 48 (1), 80-84
Zwacka, RM., Reuter, A., Pfaff, E., Moll, J., Gorgas, K., Karasawa, M. and Weiher, H., (1994). . The EMBO Journal. 13 (21), 5129-5134
Karasawa, M., Zwacka, RM., Reuter, A., Fink, T., Hsieh, CL., Lichter, P., Francke, U. and Welher, H., (1993). . Human Molecular Genetics. 2 (11), 1829-1834
Conferences (9)
Mohr, A., Tianyuan, C., Brooke, G. and Zwacka, RM., (2021). SOLUBLE TRAIL HAS BETTER EFFICACY THAN FULL-LENGTH MEMBRANE-BOUND TRAIL, AND IN COMBINATION WITH AKTI BLOCKS PRO-METASTATIC CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN PROSTATE CANCER CELLS
Albarenque, SM., Mohr, A., Rui, Y., Reidy, M., Zwacka, RM. and Laura, LD., (2010). RNAi-Mediated Inhibition of XIAP Combined with Systemic Mesenchymal Stem Cell-mediated Delivery of STRAIL Inhibits Metastatic Growth of Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells
Mohr, A., Behrend, L. and Zwacka, RM., (2006). Overexpression of MnSOD induces mitochondrial depolarization and p53-dependent senescence
Mohr, A., Debatin, KM. and Zwacka, RM., (2003). 5-fluorouracil induced apoptotis inhuman colon cancer cells is mediated by caspase-8 and-2 and inhibition of thymidilate synthase in p53 deficient cells.
Mohr, A., Zwacka, RM., Schrezenmeier, H., D枚hner, K., Wiesneth, M., Stahnke, K. and Debatin, KM., (2003). Caspase-8L expression contributes to the protection of CD34+hematopoietic progenitor cells from C95-mediated apoptosis.
Mohr, A., Henderson, G., Dudus, L., Herr, I., Debatin, KM., Weiher, H., Fisher, K. and Zwacka, RM., (2003). AAV encoded expression of TRAIL in experimental human colorectal tumor cells leads to tumor regression.
Stark, LA., Zwacka, RM. and Dunlop, MG., (1998). Development of novel genetic approaches for the treatment of hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer
Woo, YJ., Zhang, JC., Vijayasarathy, C., Zwacka, RM., Englehardt, JF., Gardner, TJ. and Sweeney, HL., (1997). Recombinant adenoviral mediated cardiac gene transfer of superoxide dismutase and catalase attenuates post-ischemic contractile dysfunction
ZWACKA, RM., KARASAWA, M., REUTER, Z. and WEIHER, H., (1994). THE MOUSE STRAIN MPV-17, A DISEASE-MODEL LINKING GLOMERULOSCLEROSIS TO LOSS OF A PEROXISOMAL FUNCTION
Reports and Papers (1)
Mohr, A., Tianyuan, C., Clarkson, CT., Brooke, GN., Teif, VB. and Zwacka, RM., (2020). Fas-threshold signalling in MSCs causes tumour progression and metastasis
Grants and funding
2024
Next-generation liquid biopsies for early detection of pancreatic cancer based on cell-free DNA nucleosomics
Pancreatic Cancer UK
A translational research radiation facility to tackle cancer and viral infections
Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust
A new generation of liquid biopsies for early diagnostics of colorectal cancer
Bowel Cancer UK
2022
Rapid and Agile Project Fund - The development of therapeutics for COVID-19 variants
糖心Vlog
2016
MSC - Mediated delivery of TRAIL for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer UK
2015
The role of RIP1 in anti-cancer cytotoxic drug-induced JNK activation and apoptosis
Wellcome Trust
