Veronica Rodriguez Bravo, Ph.D.

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SUMMARY

Veronica Rodriguez-Bravo, Ph.D., and her laboratory team investigate mechanisms coordinating genome integrity, stability and function and consequences of dysregulation in cancer. Her team studies how advanced tumors, such as hormone-driven cancers including prostate adenocarcinomas, reprogram themselves to become more aggressive through rewiring of their genome and adaption to high levels of chromosomal defects. The overarching goal of the laboratory is to identify vulnerabilities to attack aggressive tumors.

Focus areas

• Role of nuclear pore complex proteins in the regulation of genome function and stability in healthy cells and cancer cells.
• Causes and consequences of chromosomal instability in aggressive tumors.
• Transcriptional rewiring and plasticity in advanced prostate cancer.

Significance to patient care

Highly aggressive tumors such as metastatic prostate cancer often progress into incurable, therapy-resistant stages. Dr. Rodriguez-Bravo's research program works to illuminate new routes for therapeutic intervention. One option being investigated is exploiting functional vulnerabilities of aggressive therapy-refractory tumors, which then can be implemented earlier in the disease process. The goal is to integrate research data to define novel molecular targetable mechanisms and biomarkers to improve clinical management and outcomes for people with cancer.

Professional highlights

• Co-leader, genitourinary (GU) cancer interest group, Mayo Clinic-University of Minnesota, 2023-present.
• Member, Awards Committee, Society for Basic Urologic Research, Inc. (SBUR) 2022-present.
• Member, Education Committee, American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), 2022-present.
• Margaret Q. Landenberger Research Foundation grant, 2020-present.
• Permanent member, Transition to Independence Study Section (NCI-I), National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 2020-present.
• NCI-NIH Research Grant R01 grant, 2019-present.
• Young Investigator Award, Prostate Cancer Foundation, 2018-2023.
• Co-leader, Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Working Group, 2021-2022.
• W.W. Smith Charitable Trust medical research grant, 2019-2022.
• Pennsylvania Department of Health grant, 2018-2022.
• NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22), 2016-2019.
• American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant, 2018.
• Friends of the AACR Foundation Early Career Investigator Award, 2018.
• Postdoctoral Research Award, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2005.