Research Summary
My clinical research interests are first-in-human early phase clinical trials of novel compounds and alternative strategies for the treatment and prevention of cancer. I have been involved in clinical and translational research in early phase clinical trials since 1998. As the program leader for Development Therapeutics and the PI of a peer-reviewed basic science lab, my main focus is on translating preclinical findings into early-stage clinical trials with extensive PK and integration of PD correlative studies and molecular imaging for patients with advanced stage cancer.
My basic research interest is centered on the role of epigenetic modification in therapy resistance in breast cancer and epigenetic priming. In addition to studying basic mechanisms of hormone therapy resistance, we have shown that epigenetic modification plays a crucial role in the hormonal regulation and carcinogenesis of breast cancer.
Research Funding
July 1, 2017 - May 31, 2022 - Developing silastic-silicone for the local delivery of hormonal therapy to prevent and treat breast cancer, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA220131
May 12, 2014 - February 28, 2019 - Translating HP 13C MRI as a Novel Paradigm for Assessing Drug Target Inhibition, Co-Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA183071
September 19, 2011 - July 31, 2016 - The role of HDAC2 in hormone therapy resistance, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA152989
May 18, 2007 - July 31, 2012 - The Role of Selective HDAC Enzymes in Drug Sensitivity, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA122657
Education
Kantonsschule Sargans, Switzerland, Baccalaureate, 1983, Sciences, Liberal Arts
University of Bern Switzerland, Doctorate, 1990, Medicine
University of Bern Switzerland, MD Thesis, 1992, Medicine