Mina S. Sedrak, MD, MS
Director, Cancer and Aging Program
A graduate of the University of Chicago and Rush Medical College, Dr. Mina S. Sedrak completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he also earned a master's degree in health policy. Dr. Sedrak is an associate professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. In addition to providing compassionate care to individuals with breast cancer, Dr. Sedrak serves as director of the Cancer and Aging Program, which is dedicated to ensuring patients thrive through cancer with resilience and wellness.
Research Priorities
While more women are surviving breast cancer, many survivors experience premature aging—including cardiac issues, memory loss, and frailty—as a result of their cancer treatment. Dr. Sedrak’s research is focused on studying the molecular mechanisms that contribute to premature aging and identifying biological signatures that can be exploited to prevent, delay, or reduce the age-related impacts of cancer therapy.
An important priority for Dr. Sedrak is his research surrounding senescence, which is a state in which cells stop dividing as a result of stress. Senescence can be desirable during cancer treatment as it may stop tumor growth. However, prolonged senescence after treatment can create a lack of rejuvenation and other unwanted effects, such as frailty. Through laboratory and clinical studies, Dr. Sedrak and his team are evaluating a class of agents called senolytics that actively target and eliminate senescent cells. The hope is that these efforts will lead to new interventions that improve quality of life for survivors of breast cancer and many other malignancies.
Opportunity for Support
Philanthropy is vital to Dr. Sedrak maximizing the impact of ongoing studies and pursuing new avenues for exploration. This includes harnessing the power of cutting-edge research technologies and techniques, like biomarker data analysis, to better understand and address unmet health challenges faced by patients during, and long after, cancer treatment.
To support Dr. Sedrak’s efforts, follow the donate button below or contact Melissa Brody at (310) 295-7531 or [email protected].