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 8/31/2026

    Kontodimas K, Varelas X. Hippo-YAP/TAZ Signaling in the Respiratory System. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2026 Aug 31. PMID: 42674841.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/28/2026

    Kontodimas K, Raslan AA, Spira B, Zhu C, Karapurkar J, Kefella Y, Chiu D, Qiu X, Beane JE, Ligresti G, Varelas X. LATS1/2 inactivation drives a distinct venous endothelial cell response that contributes to fibrotic remodeling of the lung. Sci Adv. 2026 Aug 28; 12(35):eaef8468. PMID: 42664350.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/3/2026

    Kontodimas K, Raslan AA, Spira B, Chu U, Narota A, Murata H, Hashimoto Y, Nicosia RF, Qiu X, Huang SK, Trojanowska M, Varelas X, Ligresti G. ACKR1-expressing venous endothelial cells establish a pro-fibrotic niche in pulmonary fibrosis. bioRxiv. 2026 Aug 03. PMID: 42620057.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/1/2026

    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. 2026 Aug; 21(8):3814. PMID: 40164751.

    Read at: PubMed

  • 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

View All 102 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

View all profiles