Jelani Zarif, PhD
Organizer
Dr. Jelani C. Zarif is an Assistant Professor of Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and a member of the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. His research focuses on the role of tumor-associated macrophages in prostate cancer progression, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis. His laboratory aims to identify novel immunotherapeutic targets to improve treatments for metastatic prostate cancer.
Dr. Zarif earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Jackson State University. He then obtained his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University, where he conducted his dissertation research under Dr. Cindy Miranti. Following his Ph.D., he completed two postdoctoral fellowships at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Throughout his career, Dr. Zarif has received several prestigious awards, including the Prostate Cancer Foundation's Young Investigator Award, the Patrick C. Walsh Prostate Cancer Research Fund, the Department of Defense Translational Research Award, and the NCI K22 Career Transition Award. In 2022, he was appointed as a Robert E. Meyerhoff Endowed Professor at Johns Hopkins, recognizing his commitment to scientific excellence and enhancing opportunities for underrepresented groups in the field.
In 2023, Dr. Zarif was selected as one of the inaugural Cancer Moonshot Scholars by the White House, an initiative aimed at advancing cancer research and promoting health equity.
Dr. Zarif's work is instrumental in understanding the immune responses in prostate cancer and developing strategies to overcome tumor immunity. His research has significant implications for improving patient survival and developing novel immunotherapeutic approaches for metastatic prostate cancer.
Publications
Dr. Jelani C. Zarif has made significant contributions to cancer research, particularly in understanding the role of tumor-associated macrophages in prostate cancer. Here are four of his most notable cancer-related publications:
Mannose Receptor–positive Macrophage Infiltration Correlates with Prostate Cancer Onset and Metastatic Castration-resistant Disease
Authors: Jelani C. Zarif, Javier Baena-Del Valle, Jessica L. Hicks, et al.
Journal: European Urology, October 2018.
Summary: This study investigates the presence of mannose receptor (CD206) positive macrophages in prostate cancer tissues and their association with disease progression, highlighting the role of these macrophages in the onset and advancement of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Link: [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0302283818306600]
Androgen Receptor Non-nuclear Regulation of Prostate Cancer Cell Invasion Mediated by Src and Matriptase
Authors: Jelani C. Zarif, Laura Lamb, Veronique V. Schulz, et al.
Journal: The American Journal of Pathology, January 2015.
Summary: This research explores how the androgen receptor can promote prostate cancer cell invasion through non-nuclear pathways involving Src kinase and the protease matriptase, providing insights into mechanisms of cancer metastasis.
Link: [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002944014004820]
Glycolysis is the Primary Bioenergetic Pathway for Cell Motility and Cytoskeletal Remodeling in Human Prostate and Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Takumi Shiraishi, James E. Verdone, Jessie Huang, Jelani C. Zarif, et al.
Journal: The Journal of Biological Chemistry, November 2014.
Summary: This study demonstrates that glycolysis, rather than oxidative phosphorylation, is the main energy source driving cell movement and cytoskeletal changes in prostate and breast cancer cells, suggesting potential metabolic targets for therapy.
Link: [https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(20)61487-0/fulltext]
The Androgen Receptor Induces Integrin α6β1 to Promote Prostate Tumor Cell Survival via NF-κB and Bcl-xL Independently of PI3K Signaling
Authors: Laura Lamb, Jelani C. Zarif, Cindy Miranti.
Journal: The Journal of Biological Chemistry, February 2011.
Summary: This paper reveals a novel pathway by which the androgen receptor enhances prostate cancer cell survival through upregulation of integrin α6β1 and activation of NF-κB and Bcl-xL, independent of PI3K signaling.
Link: [https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(20)61487-0/fulltext]
These publications highlight Dr. Zarif's contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying prostate cancer progression and potential therapeutic targets.
Education
Dr. Jelani C. Zarif earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees from Jackson State University. He then completed his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University, where he conducted his dissertation research under the mentorship of Dr. Cindy Miranti. His academic training provided a strong foundation for his research on tumor immunology and prostate cancer, leading to his current role as a leading investigator in the field.
Professional Activities
Dr. Jelani C. Zarif is an Associate Professor of Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, holding the Robert E. Meyerhoff Endowed Professorship. He is also a member of the Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.
Dr. Zarif's research focuses on prostate cancer immunology, particularly the role of tumor-associated macrophages in promoting therapeutic resistance and metastasis. His laboratory aims to identify novel immunotherapeutic targets to improve treatments for metastatic prostate cancer.
Throughout his career, Dr. Zarif has received several prestigious awards, including the Prostate Cancer Foundation's Young Investigator Award, the Patrick C. Walsh Prostate Cancer Research Fund, and the NIH/NCI K22 Career Transition Award.
In addition to his research and teaching responsibilities, Dr. Zarif actively participates in initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in the biomedical sciences. He has been featured by the National Cancer Institute during Black History Month, where he discussed the importance of reflecting on past contributions and challenges of African Americans in science.
Dr. Zarif also contributes to the academic community by serving as an instructor on platforms like Coursera, where he shares his expertise in targeting immune cells within the prostate tumor microenvironment.
His professional activities underscore a commitment to advancing cancer research, mentoring the next generation of scientists, and promoting equity within the scientific community.
