My interests are two fold.
a. Breast cancer tumor dormancy - identifying and understanding how to target MRD in high risk breast cancer. Currently working with Angie Demichelle at Penn on a RCT targeting 3 pathways (atophagy, MTOR and cMET) identified in disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in the bone marrow of high risk breast cancer patients. Other options are possible as these DCT's express low levels of Her2 which may be targetable. I am interested in measuring and helping treat MRD in high risk breast cancer patients. We have an opportunity in P&LM to develop and bring on new assays to measure solid tumor MRD and potentially screen for targetable pathway under our CLIA license.
b. Digital pathology - I have been working in this space for decades and the field is now moving toward clinical adoption of digital pathology for routine diagnosis. Once in a digital format, histology slides are amenable to advanced machine learning studies to improve diagnostics between pathologists, use advanced imaging to predict disease outcomes and even predict response to novel therapeutics. Combined with multiplex tissue staining and spatial omics, these technologies are set to revolutionize our diagnostic portfolio and understanding of human biology. I'll be pushing the pathology clinical lab to adopt these technologies and we will be hiring new scientists to bring more of this science onto campus.
MD, PhD - University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 1984-1992
