Michael Bhatt

Michael Bhatt focuses on therapeutic targeting of the unfolded protein response in solid tumors, evaluating how UPR inhibition can sensitize cancer cells to existing therapies. His research has demonstrated that IRE1 kinase-RNase inhibitors can block XBP1 splicing and disrupt UPR-mediated cancer cell survival under proteotoxic stress conditions. He characterized UPR activation as a common adaptive response to targeted therapies and identified UPR inhibition as a strategy to prevent therapeutic resistance. His work is translating UPR biology into combination cancer therapy strategies.