Lara Scheherazade Milane Author of Evaluating Organization Development
FEATURED AUTHOR

Lara Scheherazade Milane

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Sciences
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dr. Lara Scheherazade Milane is an Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Sciences Department at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Milane was trained as a National Cancer Institute/ National Science Foundation Nanomedicine Fellow at Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Dr. Milane is an intuitive cancer biologist with research interests in developing translational nanomedicines that exploit the hallmarks of cancer. Please check her website for more information: www.LaraMilane.com

Biography

Dr. Lara Scheherazade Milane joined Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (Las Cruces, New Mexico) in 2016 as founding faculty in the Biomedical Sciences Department.  Dr. Milane received her training as an NCI/NSF Nanomedicine Fellow at Northeastern University, Boston, MA.  Dr. Milane has a PhD in Pharmaceutical Science with specializations in Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems (Northeastern University, Boston, MA).  She also received her MS in Biology and BS in Neuroscience from Northeastern University.  

Dr. Milane is an intuitive cancer biologist and has distinguished three emerging hallmarks of cancer (plasticity, heterogeneity, and stemness/quiescence).  Dr. Milane’s research interests are in cancer biology, mitochondrial medicine, and translational nanomedicine.  Dr. Milane is interested in developing clinically translatable targeted nanomedicine therapies for cancer treatment.  She teaches in the medical program and in the post-baccalaureate program and has developed innovative team based learning and flipped classroom sessions.

Dr. Milane is an advocate for women in the sciences and is a pioneer for outreach.  Dr. Milane has 18 peer reviewed journal publications, 5 book chapters, and 3 white papers.    

Education

    PhD, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 2010
    MS, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 2006
    BS, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 2003

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

    □ Cancer Biology
    □ Nanomedicine
    □ Targeted Drug Delivery
    □ Mitochondrial Medicine

Personal Interests

    □ Cancer Biology and Nanomedicine
    □      Mitochondria
    □      Exosomal Biology
    □      Interdisciplinary Research Collaborations
    □ Team Based Learning and Peer Evaluation
    □ Advocate for Women in the Sciences
    □ Community Outreach/Education  

Websites

Books

Articles

The Americas Special Issue of the Journal of Controlled Release

Exosome Mediated Communication within the Tumor Microenvironment


Published: Dec 10, 2015 by The Americas Special Issue of the Journal of Controlled Release
Authors: Lara Milane, Amit Singh, George Mattheolabakis, Megha Suresh, and Mansoor Amiji
Subjects: Biomedical Science, Medicine, Nanoscience & Technology, Pharmaceutical Science & Regulation

It is clear that exosomes (endosome derived vesicles) serve important roles in cellular communication both locally and distally and that the exosomal process is abnormal in cancer. This review covers current exosomal biology in cancer. Often referred to as cellular nanoparticles, understanding exosomes, and how cancer cells use these cellular nanoparticles in communication is at the cutting edge frontier of advancing cancer biology.

 Journal of Drug Targeting

Hyaluronic Acid Targeting of CD44 for Cancer Therapy


Published: Oct 09, 2015 by Journal of Drug Targeting
Authors: George Mattheolabakis, Lara Milane, Amit Singh, and Mansoor Amiji

Cluster of differentiation-44 (CD44) is a ubiquitously present glycoprotein on the surface of mammalian cells that plays a significant role in a number of biological functions. We outline a number of research approaches from the current literature that take advantage of hyaluronic acid's targeting ability and describe the possible advantages for each approach. The value of CD44 targeting can be easily appreciated from the number of different approaches that have reached clinical trials.

NCI's CANCER NANOTECHNOLOGY PLAN 2015

Exosome-Mediated Communication in the Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis


Published: Sep 01, 2015 by NCI's CANCER NANOTECHNOLOGY PLAN 2015
Authors: Lara Milane and Mansoor Amiji

This white paper projects the future of exosomal research in cancer.

NCI's CANCER NANOTECHNOLOGY PLAN 2015

Nanotechnology Solutions to Overcome Plasticity and Resistance Using Epigenetic


Published: Sep 01, 2015 by NCI's CANCER NANOTECHNOLOGY PLAN 2015
Authors: Lara Milane and Mansoor Amiji

This white paper projects the future of nanomedicines that use epigenetic and microRNA reprogramming to overcome plasticity and drug resistance in cancer.

Journal of Controlled Release

Mitochondrial Biology, Targets, and Drug Delivery


Published: Jun 10, 2015 by Journal of Controlled Release
Authors: Lara Milane, Malav Trivedi, Amit Singh, Meghna Talekar, and Mansoor Amiji

In recent years, mitochondrial medicine has emerged as a new discipline resting at the intersection of mitochondrial biology, pathology, and pharmaceutics. Mitochondrial medicine is at the precipice of clinical translation; the objective of this review is to aid in the advancement of mitochondrial medicine from infancy to application.

Pharmaceutical Research

Cluster of Differentiation 44 Targeted Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles for MDR1 si


Published: Jun 07, 2015 by Pharmaceutical Research
Authors: Xiaoqian Yang, Arun K. Iyer, Amit Singh, Lara Milane, Edwin Choy, Francis J. Hornicek, Mansoor M. Amiji, and Zhenfeng Du

This study evaluated a CD44 targeted HA-PEI/HA-PEG nanoparticle platform that may be a clinically relevant gene delivery system for systemic siRNA-based anticancer therapeutics for the treatment of MDR cancers.

Current Medicinal Chemistry

Targeted Cancer Therapy


Published: Feb 05, 2015 by Current Medicinal Chemistry
Authors: Yan Gao, Jacson Shen, Lara Milane, Francis Hornicek, Mansoor Amiji, and Zhenfeng Duan

Recent advances in cancer molecular biology have resulted in parallel and unprecedented progress in the development of targeted cancer therapy. This review discusses the mechanisms of targeted drug resistance in cancer and discusses nanotechnology approaches to circumvent this resistance.

Journal of Controlled Release

Multi-modal strategies for overcoming tumor drug resistance: Hypoxia, the Warbur


Published: Oct 30, 2011 by Journal of Controlled Release
Authors: Lara Milane, Shanthi Ganesh, Shruti Shah, Zhenfeng Duan, and Mansoor Amiji

Inefficiencies in systemic drug delivery and tumor residence as well as micro-environmental selection pressures contribute to the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer. This review emphasizes multifunctional nanocarriers that enhance drug delivery efficiency, the application of RNAi, modulation of the tumor apoptotic threshold, and physical approaches to overcome MDR.

PLoS ONE

Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Paclitaxel/Lonidamine Loaded EGFR-Targeted Na


Published: Sep 08, 2011 by PLoS ONE
Authors: Lara Milane, Zhenfeng Duan, and Mansoor Amiji

The treatment of multi-drug resistant (MDR) cancer is a clinical challenge. Many MDR cells over-express epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We exploit this expression through the development of EGFR-targeted, polymer blend nanocarriers for the treatment of MDR cancer using paclitaxel (a common chemotherapeutic agent) and lonidamine (an experimental drug; mitochondrial hexokinase 2 inhibitor).

Nanomedicine

Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of lonidamine/paclitaxel loaded, EGFR-targe


Published: Aug 07, 2011 by Nanomedicine
Authors: Lara Milane, Zhenfeng Duan, and Mansoor Amiji

The aim of this study was to assess the biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted polymer-blend nanoparticles loaded with the anticancer drugs lonidamine and paclitaxel. Lonidamine-paclitaxel combination therapy administered via EGFR-targeted polymer-blend nanocarriers may become a viable platform for the future treatment of multidrug-resistant cancer.

News

Dr. Milane Teaches Her 3 Hallmarks of Cancer . . .

By: Lara Scheherazade Milane

Snapshot of Dr. Milane co-teaching the three hallmarks of cancer that she characterized as Emerging Hallmarks (Plasticity, Heterogeneity, Stemness/Quiescence).  The Hallmarks are discussed in the book that she edited and contributed to, Nanomedicine for Inflammatory Diseases (CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, July 2017).  Dr. Milane is an Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Sciences Department at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine.  She Thanks Dr. Selinfreund for the fantastic co-teaching session on the Molecular Basis of Cancer.  The flipped session consisted of 14 pre-recorded videos followed by an in-class team based competition centered on presenting one of the 13 Hallmarks of Cancer or Dr. Milane's coined theme of "Cancer as Survival of the Fittest at it's Finest".  

To view the session please go to: 

https://youtu.be/aG9BwCYX9VY

Videos

Dr. Milane Teaching Moments on Her Three Emerging Hallmarks of Cancer

Published: Jun 07, 2017

Snapshot of Dr. Milane and Dr. Selinfreund co-teaching the three hallmarks of cancer that Dr. Milane characterized as Emerging Hallmarks (Plasticity, Heterogeneity, Stemness/Quiescence).