Aik Seng Ooi, PhD

Dr. Aikseng Ooi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Florida and a principal investigator at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology Center for Inflammation Science and Systems Medicine (CISSM). He is a biochemist by training whose work bridges cancer informatics, molecular biology, and translational oncology. Dr. Ooi’s research focuses on the genetic and molecular mechanisms driving cancer, with particular emphasis on kidney malignancies and the dysregulation of the NRF2-Keap1-ARE signaling pathway. His lab integrates computational analysis of large-scale genomic datasets with molecular and in vivo validation strategies to uncover novel cancer vulnerabilities.

Dr. Ooi has investigated a broad range of tumor types, including kidney cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and rare tumors such as phyllodes and cutaneous carcinomas. His recent work has highlighted the role of NRF2 activation and disrupted iron metabolism in hereditary kidney cancers like HLRCC, and identified therapeutic opportunities using ferroptosis-inducing agents. Through active collaborations with clinical oncologists, Dr. Ooi aims to translate his discoveries into new strategies for precision oncology.