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null Norma Ybarra, PhD

Scientist, RI-MUHC, Glen site

Cancer Research Program

Centre for Translational Biology

Assistant Professor, Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University

 

Keywords

radiobiology • radiotherapy-related toxicity • cancer metabolism • preclinical models • translational research • radioprotection

Research Focus

My research focuses on understanding how cancer treatments, particularly radiotherapy, affect both tumors and normal tissues, and on developing strategies to make these treatments safer by reducing normal tissue injury and more effective against cancer. Using preclinical cancer and radiation-injury models, my work investigates radiation response at the biological, histopathological, and imaging levels to identify biomarkers, such as circulating factors and imaging signatures that can predict treatment tolerance and toxicity risk. I also explore therapeutic approaches, including metabolic and immune-modulating compounds that show potential to enhance tumor control while protecting normal tissues from radiation damage. My research aims to support more personalized radiotherapy, lessen long-term toxicity, and ultimately improve patient quality of life. My program benefits from strong collaborations with the Medical Physics Unit, enabling the integration of advanced imaging, quantitative modeling, and computational methods to more precisely characterize and predict treatment response.

Selected Publications

Click on Pubmed to see my current publications list

  • Wang LM, Serban M, Arias O, Seuntjens J, Ybarra N. Selective radiation-enhancing effects of a muscle-derived dipeptide in an orthotopic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) xenograft mouse model. Int J Radiat Biol. 2025;101(8):846-859. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2025.2523294. Epub 2025 Jul 3. PMID: 40608893.

  • Wang LM, Yadav R, Serban M, Arias O, Seuntjens J, Ybarra N. Validation of an orthotopic non-small cell lung cancer mouse model, with left or right tumor growths, to use in conformal radiotherapy studies. PLoS One. 2023 Apr 13;18(4):e0284282. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284282. PMID: 37053154.

  • Ybarra N, Seuntjens J. Radio-selective effects of a natural occurring muscle-derived dipeptide in A549 and normal cell lines. Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 8;9(1):11513. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47944-5. PMID: 31395939.

  • Wang LM, Jung S, Serban M, Chatterjee A, Lee S, Jeyaseelan K, El Naqa I, Seuntjens J, Ybarra N. Comparison of quantitative and qualitative scoring approaches for radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis as applied to a preliminary investigation into the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell delivery methods in a rat model. BJR Open. 2021 Jul 5;2(1):20210006. doi: 10.1259/bjro.20210006. PMID: 34381940.

  • Perez JR, Ybarra N, Chagnon F, Serban M, Lee S, Seuntjens J, Lesur O, El Naqa I. Tracking of Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Fluorescence Endomicroscopy Imaging in Radiotherapy-Induced Lung Injury. Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 19;7:40748. doi: 10.1038/srep40748. PMID: 28102237.