My main research interest is to unravel the complex mechanisms that regulate cell signaling, and how they go wrong in diseases such as cancer. I am currently studying factors that regulate the activity and substrate specificity of kinases, leading to context-specific rewiring of signaling networks.

Background

2017-present: Centre for Genomic Regulation, Department of Systems Biology (Postdoctoral)

2010-2016: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences (Ph.D.)

2005-2009: Boston University, College of Arts and Sciences (B.A. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; B.A. Psychology)

Publications (aka Head SA)

Lyu J; Yang EJ; Head SA; Ai N; Zhang B; Wu C; Li RJ; Liu Y; Yang C; Dang Y; Kwon HJ; Ge W; Liu JO; Shim JS, 2017. Pharmacological blockade of cholesterol trafficking by cepharanthine in endothelial cells suppresses angiogenesis and tumor growth.  Cancer Lett 409:91-103

Head SA; Shi WQ; Yang EJ; Nacev BA; Hong SY; Pasunooti KK; Li RJ; Shim JS; Liu JO, 2017. Simultaneous Targeting of NPC1 and VDAC1 by Itraconazole Leads to Synergistic Inhibition of mTOR Signaling and Angiogenesis.  ACS Chem Biol 12(1):174-182

Head SA; Liu JO, 2016. Identification of Small Molecule-binding Proteins in a Native Cellular Environment by Live-cell Photoaffinity Labeling.  J Vis Exp.

Qiu H; Qian S; Head SA; Liu JO; Jin Z, 2016. Insights into the structure-activity relationship of the anticancer compound ZJ-101, a derivative of marine natural product superstolide A: A role played by the lactone moiety.  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 26(19):4702-4704

He QL; Minn I; Wang Q; Xu P; Head SA; Datan E; Yu B; Pomper MG; Liu JO, 2016. Targeted Delivery and Sustained Antitumor Activity of Triptolide through Glucose Conjugation.  Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 55(39):12035-9

Qian S; Shah AK; Head SA; Liu JO; Jin Z, 2016. Insights into the structure-activity relationship of the anticancer compound ZJ-101, a derivative of marine natural product superstolide A: A critical role played by the conjugated trienyl lactone moiety.  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 26(15):3411-3

Shah AK; Qian S; Zhang D; Head SA; Liu JO; Jin Z, 2016. Insights into the structure-activity relationship of the anticancer compound ZJ-101: A critical role played by the cyclohexene ring.  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 26(12):2890-2892

Shim JS; Li RJ; Bumpus NN; Head SA; Kumar Pasunooti K; Yang EJ; Lv J; Shi W; Liu JO, 2016. Divergence of Antiangiogenic Activity and Hepatotoxicity of Different Stereoisomers of Itraconazole.  Clin Cancer Res 22(11):2709-20

Head SA; Shi W; Zhao L; Gorshkov K; Pasunooti K; Chen Y; Deng Z; Li RJ; Shim JS; Tan W; Hartung T; Zhang J; Zhao Y; Colombini M; Liu JO, 2015. Antifungal drug itraconazole targets VDAC1 to modulate the AMPK/mTOR signaling axis in endothelial cells.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112(52):E7276-85

Shim JS; Li RJ; Lv J; Head SA; Yang EJ; Liu JO, 2015. Inhibition of angiogenesis by selective estrogen receptor modulators through blockade of cholesterol trafficking rather than estrogen receptor antagonism.  Cancer Lett 362(1):106-15

Strating JR; van der Linden L; Albulescu L; Bigay J; Arita M; Delang L; Leyssen P; van der Schaar HM; Lanke KH; Thibaut HJ; Ulferts R; Drin G; Schlinck N; Wubbolts RW; Sever N; Head SA; Liu JO; Beachy PA; De Matteis MA; Shair MD; Olkkonen VM; Neyts J; van Kuppeveld FJ, 2015. Itraconazole inhibits enterovirus replication by targeting the oxysterol-binding protein.  Cell Rep 10(4):600-15

Wang Z; Longo PA; Tarrant MK; Kim K; Head S; Leahy DJ; Cole PA, 2011. Mechanistic insights into the activation of oncogenic forms of EGF receptor.  Nat Struct Mol Biol 18(12):1388-93

Shi W; Nacev BA; Aftab BT; Head S; Rudin CM; Liu JO, 2011. Itraconazole side chain analogues: structure-activity relationship studies for inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) glycosylation, and hedgehog signaling.  J Med Chem 54(20):7363-74

Publication list retrieved from NCBI using ImpactPubs