SPRC Spotlight Olajumoke Ogunlusi

By: Gabby Wetwiski

Meet Olajumoke Ogunlusi, 3rd place winner for her presentation titled, “LILRB4 regulates circadian-disruption induced mammary tumorigenesis via non-canonical WNT signaling pathway” at SPRC 2025!

1. What is your research model?

I utilize multidisciplinary approaches such as single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, bioinformatics, and in vivo mouse models to investigate the role of circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) in triple-negative breast cancer.

2. In your own words, tell us about your research.

Circadian rhythm is a biological rhythm that controls most cellular and physiological processes at about a 24-hour period. These processes include the sleep-wake cycle, metabolism, hormone secretion, and regulation of gene expression. Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD), which is the perturbation to the normal functioning of the circadian clock, can occur through shift work, social jet lag, and even the timing of food consumption. Epidemiological studies have reported the impact of CRD on human health and diseases such as mood disorders, metabolic disorders, and cancer. However, the role of CRD in aggressive basal mammary tumorigenesis remains elusive. The first part of my research project has identified that CRD accelerates mammary tumorigenesis and lung metastasis or secondary tumors. My study also showed that CRD rendered the tumors therapeutically resistant. This study also identified the molecular mechanism as well as a target molecule, an immune receptor named leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4), which showed to be upregulated under CRD conditions. When we targeted LILRB4 using immunotherapy, we observed the inhibition of CRD-induced tumorigenesis and lung metastasis. My current aim will be to uncover the crosstalk between the breast tumor microbiome and metabolome, and finally to define the ligand of LILRB4 in aggressive breast tumors.

3. What advice do you have for future students?

I would say dress up every day with resilience and perseverance and never forget the goal or dream that pushed you to pursue graduate school, let that be your driving force.