Dr. Aru Narendran

Biography

Aru Narendran is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. His research focuses on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a common malignancy in pediatrics, which constitutes more than 25% of childhood cancers. The cure rates for this condition have improved significantly; however, survival rates post-relapse remain low. Effective and innovative therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to improve prognosis. Professor Narendran's research identifies Aurora kinases, a family of serine/threonine kinases essential for regulating mitotic cell division, as potential targets for cancer therapeutics. His work explores the involvement of these proteins in the regulation of mitotic processes, including centromere duplication, bipolar mitotic spindle formation, and monitoring spindle checkpoint fidelity. The overexpression of Aurora kinases in primary tumor types has been linked to chromosomal instability, making them promising therapeutic targets. His current research project aims to define the role of Aurora kinase inhibition as an effective therapeutic approach for treating refractory pediatric leukemia. He is currently seeking qualified postdoctoral fellows to join his lab in pediatric cancer biology.

Research Interests

Experience