Pathology Graduate Training Program
Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CMP) -
Current Graduate Students

Name: Danushka Seneviratne
Email: dss24@pitt.edu
Lab Phone: 412-623-7731
Mentor Name: Anette Duensing, MD

Undergraduate Education:
Undergraduate Degree: BS Hons: Biology
Undergraduate Institution: Queen's University, Canada

Research Project Information

Our lab studies gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). GISTs are caused by mutations in the KIT or PDGFRA receptor tyrosine kinases. The main form of therapy currently available for GISTs exists in the form of a small molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate, otherwise known by the common name Gleevec. My project focuses on further elucidating the mechanism by which imatinib causes GIST cell apoptosis to more efficiently treat GIST and develop means to overcome imatinib resistance.

Publications