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 4/2/2026

    Ning B, Chiu DJ, Pfefferkorn RM, Cullinane E, Kefella Y, Kane E, Reyes-Ortiz V, Liu G, Zhang X, Liu H, Sultan L, Green E, Constant M, Spira AE, Campbell JD, Reid ME, Varelas X, Burks EJ, Lenburg ME, Mazzilli SA, Beane JE. Upregulation of an Epithelial miRNA Is Associated with Immune Evasion in Progressive Bronchial Premalignant Lesions. Cancer Immunol Res. 2026 Apr 02; 14(4):689-707. PMID: 41670462.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/11/2026

    Kroehling L, Chen A, Spinella A, Reed E, Kukuruzinska M, Varelas X, Monti S. A highly resolved integrated single-cell atlas of HPV-negative head and neck cancer. Commun Med (Lond). 2026 Mar 11; 6(1). PMID: 41813916.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/3/2026

    Zhao J, Luebbers A, Savransky S, Lin TY, Cheng N, Wilcox A, Janicot R, Green E, Sharma A, Maziarz M, Varelas X, Irannejad R, Vilardaga JP, Garcia-Marcos M. Inhibitory probes for spatiotemporal analysis of Gas protein signaling. Nat Chem Biol. 2026 Feb 03. PMID: 41634441.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/1/2026

    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. 2026 Feb 01; 74(2):177-191. PMID: 40920963.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/16/2026

    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. 2026 Jan 16; 86(2):503-518. PMID: 41066547.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 99 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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