Dr. Lara Planas-Paz

Senior Scientist

I am a cell biologist with over 10 years’ experience in translational research in both academia and industry. I did my PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, and a Postdoc at the Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf, where I showed how mechanical signals induce the development of the lymphatic vasculature. At the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Basel, Switzerland, I unravelled the molecular mechanism that instructs the liver to regenerate after different types of injury.

I am currently investigating novel therapeutic options for rare and difficult to treat solid tumors such as sarcoma. In the Systems Pathology – Functional Tumor Pathology lab, we are developing novel patient-derived tumor organoid models, which we subject to functional testing and molecular profiling to identify novel targets and drug sensitivities that can be used for tailoring personalized oncological treatments. In addition, we employ cutting-edge technologies like CRISPR screening and single-cell molecular profiling to gain new molecular insights, which we aim to translate as potential drug candidates in the clinic.

Contact

Address:

Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology

Email:

lara.planaspaz@usz.ch

Publications

Sun T, Pikiolek M, Orsini V, Bergling S, Holwerda S, Morelli L, Hoppe PS, Planas-Paz L, Yang Y, Ruffner H, Bouwmeester T, Lohmann F, Terracciano LM, Roma G, Cong F, Tchorz JS. 2020.

AXIN2+ pericentral hepatocytes have limited contributions to liver homeostasis and regeneration. Cell Stem Cell 26(1):97-107.e6

Planas-Paz L*, Sun T*, Pikiolek M, Cochran NR, Bergling S, Orsini V, Yang Z, Sigoillot F, Jetzner J, Syed M, Neri M, Schuierer S, Morelli L, Hoppe PS, Schwarzer W, Cobos CM, Alford JL, Zhang L, Cuttat R, Waldt A, Carballido-Perrig N, Nigsch F, Kinzel B, Nicholson TB, Yang Y, Mao X, Terraciano LM, Russ C, Reece-Hoyes JS, Gubser Keller C, Lugus J, Sailer AW, Bouwmeester T, Greenbaum LE, Lugus JJ, Cong F, McAllister G, Hoffman GR, Roma G, Tchorz JS. 2019.

YAP, but not RSPO-LGR4/5, signaling in biliary epithelial cells promotes a ductular reaction in response to liver injury. Cell Stem Cell 25(1):39-53. *equal contribution.

Urner S*, Planas-Paz L*, Hilger LS, Henning C, Branopolski A, Kelly-Goss M, Stanczuk L, Pitter B, Montanez E, Peirce SM, Mäkinen T, Lammert E. 2019.

Identification of ILK as a critical regulator of VEGFR3 signalling and lymphatic vascular growth. EMBO J. 38(2), e99322. *equal contribution.

Planas-Paz L*, Orsini V*, Boulter L, Calabrese D, Pikiolek M, Nigsch F, Xie Y, Roma G, Donovan A, Marti P, Beckmann N, Dill MT, Carbone W, Bergling S, Isken A, Mueller M, Kinzel B, Yang Y, Mao X, Nicholson TB, Zamponi R, Capodieci P, Valdez R, Rivera D, Loew A, Ukomadu C, Terraciano LM, Bouwmeester R, Cong F, Heim MH, Forbes SJ, Ruffner H, Tchorz JS. 2016.

The RSPO-LGR4/5-ZNRF3/RNF43 module controls liver zonation and size. Nat. Cell Biol. 18(5):467-79. *equal contribution

Neufeld S, Planas-Paz L, Lammert E. 2014.

Blood and lymphatic vascular tube formation in mouse. Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 31:115-23

Planas-Paz L, Lammert E. 2013.

Mechanical forces in lymphatic vascular development and disease. Cell Mol. Life Sci. 70(22):4341-54.

Planas-Paz L, Lammert E. 2013.

Mechanosensing in developing lymphatic vessels. In Kiefer F, Schulte-Merker S (eds.), Developmental Aspects of the Lymphatic Vascular System, Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology 214, DOI 10.1007/978-3-7091-1646-3_3, Springer-Verlag Wien.

Zeeb M*, Axnick J*, Planas-Paz L, Hartmann T, Strilic B, Lammert E. 2012.

Pharmacological manipulation of blood and lymphatic vascularization in ex vivo-cultured mouse embryos. Nat. Protoc. 7(11):1970-82. *equal contribution

Planas-Paz L, Strilić B, Goedecke A, Breier G, Fässler R, Lammert E. 2012.

Mechanoinduction of lymph vessel expansion. EMBO J. 31(4):788-804.

Bos FL, Caunt M, Peterson-Maduro J, Planas-Paz L, Kowalski J, Karpanen T, van Impel A, Tong R, Ernst JA, Korving J, van Es JH, Lammert E, Duckers HJ, Schulte-Merker S. 2011.

CCBE1 is essential for mammalian lymphatic vascular development and enhances the lymphangiogenic effect of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in vivo. Circ. Res. 109(5):486-91.