My research interests are focused on understanding how Lung and Pancreas Kras mutated cancer cells shape the tumor microenvironment. Currently I am focused on the activation of NRF2 (macrophages and T cells) and RXR (CD4 T cells and dendritic cells) pathways and how to pharmacologically target these pathways, to increase cancer patients’ responses to current therapies, with a special focus on immunotherapy. In 2021 I was able to secure independent funding through the Lung Cancer Research Program sponsored by the department of defense (DoD). This funding source allowed me to study immune cell interactions and activity within the tumor microenvironment and developing/testing new drugs that can disrupt/change these interactions.
Post-doctoral Fellowship - Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 09/2015
Pharm.D. - University of Coimbra, Portugal 07/2007
Ph.D. - University of Coimbra, Portugal 02/2013
