Kelly Banas's research interests are in developing and evaluating novel gene editing strategies in non-small cell lung cancer. Her current focus is on targeting cancer specific NRF2 mutations with CRISPR gene editing tools and evaluating the short and long-term effects these specific targeting strategies have on affected and neighboring cells. Kelly’s seminal discovery of a unique CRISPR target site within tumor cells that is absent in normal cell surrounding the tumor, has established an innovative foundational approach to the treatment of solid tumors by CRISPR-directed gene editing. She is currently working on developing this approach towards Investigational New Drug status. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine in 2021.
