Ian F Robey

Ian F Robey, Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona 1501 N. Campbell Ave, Suite 2349, PO Box 245030 Tucson Arizona, 85724, USA

Biography

Ian Robey, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor with the Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, and a Full Investigator at the Arizona Cancer Center. Dr. Robey is a new investigator studying the role of pH in tumor behavior. He is interested in the mechanisms driving acid-mediated invasion and metastases and how pH modulation can be used for therapeutic purposes in cancer treatment.

Research Interest

The purpose of my research program is to improve understanding on how extracellular pH influences tumor behavior. I am interested in the mechanisms driving acid-mediated invasion and metastases. Another major goal of my studies is to determine if systemic alkaline buffering is effective as an interventional or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of metastatic cancer. My initial research focus has been on the role of glycolysis, acidity, and hypoxia in tumor progression. These investigations placed a strong emphasis on imaging techniques to assess the tumor microenvironment. My current research program evolved from a project investigating chronic oral bicarbonate administration in tumor bearing mice to inhibit the spread of metastases. The study was the basis of a mentored career award from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). The objective of my project is to advance the preclinical findings on the effects of tumor alkalinization to promote the application of eventual clinical trials with the expectation of establishing a research program bridging integrative medicine and diagnosis/therapy driven non-invasive imaging methodologies.