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My research experiences after college and
during my masters degree training piqued my interest in translational cancer
research. As a result, I entered the Medical Scientist Training Program at UAB
in order to bridge the gap between basic science and medicine. During my PhD.
training I gained a strong interest in the area of melanoma metastasis
research.
Currently, my future plans are to pursue a career in
Dermatology and split my clinical time with translational melanoma metastasis
research. My goal is to identify therapeutic targets for anti-metastatic
therapies that could eventually be implemented in my clinical
practice.
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Hometown:
Lanesboro,
MA
Undergraduate/Masters Institution:
University of
Massachusetts
at Amherst
Penn State College of
Medicine
General Research Interests:
Cancer
metastasis
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Metastasis is the major cause of mortality
in cancer patients. Our
laboratory is investigating the genetic and molecular mechanisms that lead to
the metastatic phenotype in cancer cells. |
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In particular, we are discovering and
characterizing metastasis suppressor genes. Although there are 20+ metastasis
suppressors that have been identified to date, a mechanistic understanding of
how these genes mediate their anti-metastatic effects remain unclear.
Understanding how these genes prevent cancer cells from becoming metastatic will
be essential for potential therapeutic intervention.
My thesis work
focuses on characterizing the human metastasis suppressor gene KISS1. I have
shown that KISS1 is a secretion dependent multiple organ metastasis suppressor
that keeps disseminated metastatic cells dormant. This work has provided
significant insight into both KISS1's mechanism and site of action opening the
possibility of exogenous KISS1 administration for anti-metastatic therapy in the
future. |
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