My graduate training, completed at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, focused on the role for phosphorylation of Serine 305 of the estrogen receptor in tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer. In my postdoctoral studies at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, I investigated how the RB tumor suppressor can be leveraged to define therapy for advanced prostate cancer patients.
In my lab, I am utilizing my knowledge in hormone receptor and cancer biology to develop a translational research program studying the role of kinase signaling in prostate cancer progression. While classical KRAS-activating mutations are rarely observed in prostate cancer, other alterations in the MAPK pathway are common, including gene amplifications and BRAF fusions. The central aim is to assess the biological implications of clinically observed MAPK alterations for therapeutic response and aggressiveness of disease in order to develop novel biomarkers and treatment strategies that will improve disease outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
In addition to my research, I serve on the Associate Member Council of the AACR.