Research Lab Update

Urology Research Lab Update

Dr. Matthew Schiewer grant successes in 2020

Dr. Matthew Schiewer recently completed his first year as an independent investigator having joined the Department of Urology in November of 2019 as an Assistant Professor in Urology and Cancer Biology. He has a PhD in Genetics and completed his postdoctoral training with Dr. Karen Knudsen in the Department of Cancer Biology. With his strong background in basic and translational research in prostate cancer, Dr. Schiewer was a natural fit to join the Department of Urology. The focus of his lab is developing a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair and regulation of gene expression, and how these pathways impact one another in prostate and bladder cancers, and how they might be capitalized upon for therapeutic benefit.

In this “2020 Year in Review” magazine, Dr. Schiewer was asked to provide an update and reflect on his research laboratory activities over the last year.

“Writing this reflection on the first year of the laboratory during the holiday season has me feeling very thankful. I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of such a great team in the Department of Urology, where I have been welcomed warmly and supported professionally, with expert academic leadership provided by Dr. Leonard Gomella. I am thankful for the support of the University and of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, and the University leadership “guiding the ship” through these difficult times. It has been an interesting journey this year, with progress in our research plans being made despite the circumstances of the pandemic. “Since opening the lab, we have acquired the equipment and supplies we need to conduct our research, including the means to: genetically manipulate cancer cells; quantify gene expression changes; monitor changes in protein levels; perform experiments using fixed and fresh human cancer tissues; investigate DNA repair; and interrogate the architecture of DNA and what binds to it, and how this influences gene expression. We have made progress towards a better understanding of hormone signaling in bladder cancer, as well as further identifying the mechanisms by which DNA repair processes influence gene expression in prostate cancer.

“Currently, our core basic science team consists of four members: the PI (Matt Schiewer PhD), a research technician, a Master’s student and a PhD student who will be doing a research rotation and we hope she will join our lab for the duration of her thesis. We are also looking forward to recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow in 2021 as well.

“Our lab team was able to hit the ground running thanks to the start-up funds provided by the SKCC and the Department of Urology. Over the last 12 months we have been successful in several grant applications and received funding in the following areas:

Urology lab team ZOOM meeting featuring Jeremy Muhr, research technician (top left), Dr. Matthew Schiewer lab PI (top right), Latese Evans, Master’s student (bottom left) and Moriah Cunningham, PhD student (bottom right).

• Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Biome

Project Pilot Award for our work in exploring how DNA repair processes impact gene expression in prostate cancer.

• American Cancer Society IRG Grant

to support our work dissecting hormone signaling in bladder cancer.

• Health Research Formula Fund Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health

to study the cross-talk between DNA repair and regulation of gene expression in bladder cancer.

“In 2021, we will be seeking further funding, including competing for several R01 grants in bladder and prostate cancer. Although the pandemic did slow down bench research the university began a phased return of full lab operations in the fall and when not in the lab we were sequestered at home busy writing papers, preparing grant applications and prioritizing projects for the coming year.”