Basson Lab

Current work/topics

1. We have identified a series of drug-like small molecules that specifically activate Focal Adhesion Kinase and promote healing in the GI tract and in other epithelial tissues. We are actively pursuing drug development opportunities around these molecules.
2. Our laboratory has identified the novel protein Schlafen 12 as a key determinant of tumor biology and of survival in breast and lung cancer. We are now studying the mechanisms by which Schlafen 12 influences the response to chemotherapy.
3. Blood pressure variability (the degree to which blood pressure varies from day to day) is associated with long term morbidity and mortality, including myocardial infarction, stroke and death, as well as poor outcomes after elective surgery. We continue to investigate the associations and consequences of blood pressure variability in large patient data sets.

Select publications

• Brown SR, Vomhof-DeKrey EE, Al-Marsoummi S, Beyer T, Lauckner B, Samson M, Sattar S, Brown ND, Basson MD. SLFN12 Expression Significantly Effects the Response to Chemotherapy Drugs in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.   2024 Nov 16;16(22):3848. doi: 10.3390/cancers16223848..
• Barakat KE, Asal MF, Elsayed AAR, Nichols L, Abdelkader A, Maged G, Basson MD. Comparison between bipolar scissors, monopolar electrocautery, and hydrodissection in nipple-sparing mastectomy. Surg Oncol. 2025 Feb:58:102182.  doi: 10.1016/j.suronc.2024.102182.
• Liu G, Elsayed AAR, Kwantwi LF, Gallardo-Macias R, Gurvich VJ, Basson MD. M64HCl, a focal adhesion kinase activator, promotes intestinal mucosal healing in rats. BMC Gastro. 2025 May 8;25(1):347.doi: 10.1186/s12876-025-03937-5.
• Malek KK, Kumar B, Ahmad R, Singh A, Basson MD. Focal adhesion kinase: a promising regulator of colitis-associated healing. W J Gastroenterol. 2025 Sep 7;31(33):105466. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i33.105466.
• Fabsitz RR, Reese JA, Leidner J, Klug MG, Zhang Y, Suchy-Dicey AM, Devereux RB, Best LG, Basson MD. Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability as a risk factor for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular events among American Indians: The Strong Heart Study. Prev Chron Dis. 2025 Jun 26:22:E30. doi: 10.5888/pcd22.240512.
• Use of small molecule FAK activators to promote mucosal healing. MD Basson, VJ Gurvich – US Patent US 2021/0161907A1. Awarded 1/25/2024

Select collaborators

• Dr. Guiming Lui, Research Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, NEOMED
• Dr. Louis Kwantwi, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, NEOMED
• Dr. Vadim Gurvich, Associate Director, Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota

Open positions

See open positions in this lab on the NEOMED careers site.

See next

• List of Biomedical Sciences labs
• College of Medicine home