Xaralabos G. Varelas, PhD

Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Research in the Varelas lab is focused on gaining insight into the molecular mechanisms by which cell fate is coordinated with cell proliferation and survival during animal development and disease. The lab is particularly interested in understanding the roles and regulation of the transcriptional regulators YAP and TAZ (YAP/TAZ), which are key effectors of the Hippo signaling pathway.

YAP/TAZ integrate cell polarity and mechanical cues with information relayed by growth factors and chemicals to direct essential processes and maintain organ homeostasis. The lab is incorporating genetic and biochemical approaches to define how YAP/TAZ control developmental events, and how dysregulation of YAP/TAZ activity contributes the etiology of various diseases, such as cancer.

Publications

  • Published 10/9/2025

    Chakraborty AK, Kroehling L, Raut RD, Choudhury C, Kukuruzinska MA, Gutkind JS, Varelas X, Sahay B, Monti S, Bais MV. LSD1 Inhibition Induces MHC-I and Dendritic Cell Activation to Promote Antitumor Immunity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Res. 2025 Oct 09. PMID: 41066547.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/8/2025

    Cheng N, Kontodimas K, Matschulat A, Hicks-Berthet J, Varelas X. Airway Goblet Metaplasia Resulting from YAP/TAZ Deletion Drives Pulmonary Inflammatory Responses. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2025 Sep 08. PMID: 40920963.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/1/2025

    Aubert O, Miyake Y, Amonkar GM, Dinwoodie OM, Varisco BM, Marotta M, Zhao C, Wagner R, Chen YW, Moscatello A, Tiozzo C, Varelas X, Lerou PH, Peiro JL, Keijzer R, Ai X. Fetal Tracheal Occlusion Correlates with Normalized YAP Expression and Alveolar Epithelial Differentiation in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2025 Jun; 72(6):688-697. PMID: 39661950.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/1/2025

    Berical AC, Kiyokawa H, Beermann ML, Wallman D, Cherfane G, Dunphy V, Pan J, Tilston-Lunel A, Varelas X, Horani A, Brody SL, Kotton DN, Hawkins FJ. Reply to Huang et al.: Sowing Tailored Seeds: Gene-edited Basal Cells for Precision Regulation of Airway Phenotypes. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2025 May; 211(5):884. PMID: 39999444.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/31/2025

    Ma L, Thapa BR, Le Suer JA, Tilston-Lünel A, Herriges MJ, Wang F, Bawa PS, Varelas X, Hawkins FJ, Kotton DN. Author Correction: Life-long functional regeneration of in vivo airway epithelium by the engraftment of airway basal stem cells. Nat Protoc. 2025 Mar 31. PMID: 40164751.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 98 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Member, BU-BMC Cancer Center
    Boston University
  • Member, Pulmonary Center
    Boston University
  • Member, Center for Regenerative Medicine
    Boston University
  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University
  • Member, Genome Science Institute
    Boston University
  • Graduate Medical Sciences Educator and Mentor (Primary Mentor of Graduate Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Websites

Education

  • University of Alberta, PhD
  • McGill University, BSc

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