Juan Sebastian Yakisich

Dr. Juan Sebastian Yakisich is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Hampton University’s School of Pharmacy. With an MD/PhD background, he specializes in cancer biology, cancer stem cells, and chemotherapy. His research focuses on translational oncology, particularly addressing chemoresistance mechanisms in tumors and leveraging Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in prostate cancer progression among African-American populations. Dr. Yakisich holds a PhD from the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) and an MD from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Education

• PhD in Pharmacology & Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden)
• MD, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Research Interests

His work integrates preclinical drug evaluation with clinical translation, emphasizing:

• Development of cancer stem cell models (e.g., tumorspheres)
• Anticancer drug screening strategies targeting chemoresistant cells
• Wnt signaling pathway modulation in tumor progression
• Nanotechnology-based diagnostic tools for viral detection (e.g., SARS-CoV-2)
• Translational challenges in glioma and lung cancer research

Grant Activity

As Co-Investigator on NIH-funded grants (e.g., U54MD008621), he explores obesity-driven prostate cancer mechanisms in African-American populations. His team also investigates novel drug combinations (e.g., cardiac glycosides) to target therapy-resistant cancer cells.

Service & Outreach

• Member of multiple university committees (Research, Scholarship)
• Judge for regional science fairs and national conferences (ABRCMS)
• International advisor for Sigma-Aldrich and conference organizer/co-chair

Lab Initiatives

His lab develops interdisciplinary approaches combining electrical impedance spectroscopy, quantum dot-based diagnostics, and preclinical drug testing platforms to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and clinical application.