2018 FRIENDS OF THE AACR FOUNDATION EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATOR AWARD

Dr. Rodriguez-Bravo studies nuclear hubs controlling genome functions, such as transcription and genome integrity maintenance, and their role in prostate cancer pathogenesis. Her group recently discovered relevant changes in Nuclear Pore (NPC) composition evolutionary landscape during prostate cancer disease progression and that specific nucleoporins (Nups) drive lethal PC enhancing nuclear transport of essential transcription factors driving aggressiveness. Current goals include the study of cooperative nuclear signaling networks modulated by different Nups that control genome homeostasis and contribute to prostate cancer aggressiveness modulating different functions, from direct gene expression to cell cycle checkpoints. To achieve that, she will take a multidisciplinary approach applying genetic, single-cell high-resolution microscopy, biochemical, transcriptomic and computational analysis in prostate cancer experimental cell models, patient samples and preclinical patient-derived models. The goal is to integrate her data to define molecular insights driving disease progression and identify novel targetable mechanisms for prostate cancer.