Raymond Lai

Dr. Raymond Lai serves as Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, based at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. His research centers on lymphoma pathogenesis, with emphasis on ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK+ALCL) as a primary model system investigating oncogenic mechanisms and therapeutic resistance.

Lai's laboratory pioneered the discovery of intra-tumoral heterogeneity in ALK+ALCL using SORE6 reporter technology to identify Sox2-expressing cancer stem-like cells. His work demonstrates critical interactions between NPM-ALK oncogenic tyrosine kinase and STAT signaling pathways (particularly STAT1/STAT3), with recent focus on how these stem-like cells modulate autophagy to drive chemoresistance against tyrosine kinase inhibitors like crizotinib. Research spans molecular pathology, cancer cell plasticity, and tumor microenvironment dynamics.

Analysis of his 2020-2022 publications reveals strong thematic continuity in lymphoma subtyping (including ALCL, Hodgkin lymphoma, and mycosis fungoides), with emerging exploration of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders and translational applications in cancer immunotherapy. Methodologically, his work integrates flow cytometry, gene expression profiling, 3D culture models, and epigenetic analysis to dissect resistance mechanisms and diagnostic biomarkers.

No specific scientific awards were documented in the provided materials.

Dr. Lai actively recruits graduate students and post-doctoral fellows for research on autophagy-mediated chemoresistance in lymphoma stem cells. His collaborative network spans multiple institutions, evidenced by co-authorship on diverse projects from COVID-19 diagnostics to breast cancer target validation, though specific grant details remain unlisted.

The laboratory operates within Edmonton's Cross Cancer Institute, employing specialized techniques including SORE6 reporter assays, laser capture microdissection, and STAT3-dependent culture systems to investigate molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic vulnerabilities in hematologic malignancies.