Ludmila Prokunina-Olsson, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Prokunina-Olsson received an M.Sc. in molecular genetics from Moscow State University, Russia, and a Ph.D. in medical genetics from Uppsala University, Sweden, in 2004. During 2005-2008, she was a visiting fellow with Dr. Francis Collins in the Genome Technology Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH. Dr. Prokunina-Olsson joined the Laboratory of Translational Genomics of DCEG as a research fellow in 2008, became a tenure-track investigator in 2010, and was awarded NIH scientific tenure and promoted to senior investigator in 2014. She became Acting Director of LTG in February 2018 and was appointed as Director of LTG in December of that year. Dr. Prokunina-Olsson has been recognized for her research contributions with an NCI Director’s Merit Award, several NCI Innovation Awards, Intramural Research Awards, and several awards outside the NIH. She has been recognized as an outstanding mentor by DCEG and the International Cytokine and Interferon Society.

Research Interests

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple common germline genetic susceptibility variants that may play a role in a variety of human diseases and outcomes. Dr. Prokunina-Olsson explores the connections between the GWAS-identified genetic susceptibility variants and molecular phenotypes of importance for cancer. Some of her findings have resulted in translational and clinical applications.

Ask a Researcher: Working in a Cancer Research Lab

Francine Baker and Ludmila Prokunina-Olsson give a behind-the-scenes look inside the Laboratory of Translational Genomics.

Genetics of Bladder Cancer

Several GWAS for bladder cancer risk in individuals of European ancestry discovered multiple genomic regions with statistically significant associations. In addition to contributing to GWAS efforts, Dr. Prokunina-Olsson leads the post-GWAS analysis of these regions which includes genetic fine-mapping and functional molecular analysis of the candidate genetic variants and genes. In addition to bioinformatics tools, her lab uses a wide range of experimental tools to explore both coding and non-coding genetic variants, such as DNA and RNA sequencing, genotyping, RNA and protein expression, DNA-protein interaction analysis, genome editing, cell culture, epigenetic studies, etc. She is also exploring the regulation of somatic mutagenesis in bladder tumors by germline variants and environmental factors. This work resulted in comprehensive analyses of multiple GWAS regions associated with bladder cancer risk; the work on other GWAS regions is ongoing. 

Genetics of Infection and Cancer

Dr. Prokunina-Olsson’s lab has discovered a novel human interferon, IFN-λ4, by performing a follow-up of GWAS findings for clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Chronic HCV is a primary etiological factor for the development of chronic liver disease and liver cancer. Dr. Prokunina-Olsson leads the genetic and functional studies on IFN-λ4 in relation to HCV and several other infections associated with cancer.

In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, Dr. Prokunina-Olsson’s lab explored ACE2, the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, and discovered a novel isoform of this gene, designated as dACE2. Only dACE2 but not ACE2 was induced by interferon-high conditions, including viral infections and treatments, but only ACE2 was functional in supporting SARS-CoV-2 infection. dACE2 was found expressed in multiple tumors of squamous origin. These findings have provided important insights on COVID-19 etiology and molecular epidemiology, treatment options, and outcomes.

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