Herrera Lab members

Lorela CIRAKU
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Postdoctoral fellow
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Minna CLOITRE
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Medical Student
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Veljko GRILJ
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Research Associate
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Research interest 

My research is currently focused on clinical application and underlying mechanisms of the FLASH-RT, a novel form of radiotherapy that administers radiation doses within an extremely brief timeframe. We are examining how the differential effect of FLASH-RT on tumor and normal tissues is influenced by specific radiation parameters and methods of dose administration. Our primary objective is to offer comprehensive insights for integration of FLASH-RT into clinical practice while simultaneously facilitating the advancement of an innovative clinical very high energy electron (VHEE) FLASH irradiator. Furthermore, we are investigating the interactions of free radicals generated at high dose rates in various media to understand the basic radiochemical mechanisms that underlie the so-called FLASH effect.

Background

After obtaining my PhD in nuclear physics at the Laboratory for Ion Beam Interactions at Ruder Boskovic Institute in Zagreb, I specialized in radiobiology during my postdoc research at Radiological Accelerator Research Facility (RARAF) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Under the supervision of Dr. Guy Garty and Dr. David J. Brenner I worked on development and application of ion beam facilities for biomedical research, investigation of biological effects of charged particle and neutron radiation and the use of far-UVC light for microbial sterilization. Throughout my research, I developed platforms for ultra-high dose rate proton irradiations and provided the first insights into the biological effects in normal cells exposed to proton FLASH beam.

Katiuska PASSELLI
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Postdoctoral fellow
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Julie PERNOT
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Laboratory technician
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Research interest

I am helping lab members in their different projects and contribute to general lab organization.

Background

I obtained my professional bachelor in cell and tissue culture and molecular biology at the University of Bourgogne in 2014. I did my final internship in a biotechnology company involved in the field of cancer treatment by assessing new cancer therapies and running drug/biomarker discovery programs. I joined the CHUV in June 2015 as a lab technician at the research laboratory of the Pneumology service, were I stayed for 8 years. I had the opportunity to come back to cancer research by joining Herrera lab in October 2023.

David REPARAZ PERNAUT
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Postdoctoral fellow
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Research interest

Currently, my research is focused on identifying therapeutic combinations that enhance the effectiveness of FLASH radiotherapy. Our goal is to uncover synergistic therapies that can significantly improve the antitumor efficacy of this radiotherapy, while preserving its healthy tissue sparing properties.

Background

I hold a Clinical Biology degree from the University of Navarra, and I pursued a master's in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Salamanca. Following this, I earned my Ph.D. in Applied Medicine and Biomedicine from CIMA - University of Navarra, working in the Vaccine Development Laboratory led by Dr. Pablo Sarobe in the Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy. Additionally, I conducted part of my doctoral research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the lab of Dr. Amaia Lujambio in the Department of Oncology. My research focused on the development and enhancement of vaccines for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment, with an emphasis on neoantigen studies and the role of dendritic cells in the development of the immune response post-vaccination. I joined Herrera Lab at the CHUV Department of Radiation Oncology as a postdoc in August 2022.

Anet VALDES ZAYAS
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PhD student
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Fernanda HERRERA
Full professor - Senior physician
Laboratory F. Herrera (Service of radiation oncology)

Department of oncology UNIL CHUV

Phone +41 21 314 46 65
Email

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The Herrera Lab is based at:

AGORA Cancer Research Centre
Rue du Bugnon 25A
CH-1005 Lausanne
Switzerland

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Ch. des Boveresses 155 - CH-1066 Epalinges
Switzerland
Tel. +41 21 692 59 92
Fax +41 21 692 59 95
Ludwig Cancer ResearchUniversité de LausanneCentre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV)