Postdoctoral Fellow - Stem cells & cancer
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre - 2021
Professional Preparation
PhD - Stem cell biology
University of Toronto - 2012
University of Toronto - 2012
MSc - Developmental biology
University of Toronto - 2005
University of Toronto - 2005
BSc (Hons) - Pathobiology
University of Toronto - 2003
University of Toronto - 2003
Research Areas
Our research explores the fate and function of epithelial and mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells and niche mechanisms during development, tissue regeneration and cancer. We use a variety of in vivo and in vitro techniques including mouse models, organoid systems, lineage tracing, high resolution imaging, patient-derived xenografts, stem cell assays and single cell analyses to study stem and progenitor cell dynamics at the cellular and molecular level. Our core vision is to build new knowledge on highly plastic stem cell lineages in mammalian tissues that can be leveraged to generate innovative cancer prevention/treatment strategies and regenerative therapies.Publications
Obesity modifies cell fate plasticity of Pdgfrα-expressing adipocyte progenitors to promote an aberrant mammary microenvironment 2024 - Other
Obesity modifies cell fate plasticity ofPdgfrα-expressing adipocyte progenitors to promote an aberrant mammary microenvironment 2023 - Other
Obesity modifies cell fate plasticity of Pdgfrα-expressing adipocyte progenitors to promote an aberrant mammary microenvironment 2023 - Other
PDGFRα+ stromal adipocyte progenitors transition into epithelial cells during lobulo-alveologenesis in the murine mammary gland 2019 - Journal Article
RANK Signaling Amplifies WNT-Responsive Mammary Progenitors through R-SPONDIN1. 2015 - Journal Article
Progesterone Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk: Understanding the Biological Roots. 2015 - Journal Article
Awards
Faculty Rising STARs Award - The University of Texas System [2021]
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation [2016]
Stuart Alan Hoffman PhD Recognition Award - University of Toronto [2013]
PhD Fellowship - Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation [2013]
Terry Fox Foundation Studentship - Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute [2011]
Dr. Rajalakshmi S. Dittakavi and Dr. Prema M. Rao Graduate Award - University of Toronto [2007]
Graduate Fellowship - Univerisity of Toronto [2006]
General Motors Women in Science and Mathematics Award - University of Toronto [2002]
Life Science Research Award - University of Toronto [2002]
Appointments
Assistant Professor of Stem cell & Cancer Biology
The University of Texas at Dallas [2021–Present]
The University of Texas at Dallas [2021–Present]