Associate Professor or Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Bio
The cellular protein homeostasis network guards the proteome from diverse endogenous and environmental insults to maintain the fitness of the organism. Ironically, this pro-survival network can act to the detriment of the host to enable tumor cells accommodate to the myriad stresses associated with malignancy. Our long-term goals are to identify and characterize the systems that promote protein homeostasis, understand how these systems are co-opted and perturbed in malignancy, and ultimately identify means to manipulate them for therapeutic benefit. To accomplish these goals our group bridges biochemical, genetic and chemical biology approaches with systematic high-throughput and genomic methods.
Dr. Marc Mendillo’s research is focused on an alternative anti-cancer strategy, defining the non-oncogene addictions of breast cancer cells, or the nonessential pathways that become essential in the context of breast malignancies and drug treatment. His research group has made a fundamental insight into one of these “non-oncogene addictions,” the dependence of cancer cells on the cellular stress response systems know collectively as the protein homeostasis network. His laboratory demonstrates how breast cancers depend on this ancient protective network for tumor progression, metastasis, and drug resistance.
As a Lynn Sage Scholar, Dr. Mendillo is investigating how to exploit an ancient regulator of the cellular stress response network, its role as an effective anti-breast cancer target and how to specifically target this particularly aggressive class of tumors. He bridges biochemistry, genetic, and chemical biology disciplines to identify new approaches to diagnose and treat breast cancer.
Marc Mendillo, PhD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Newly funded researchers pursuing high-risk, high-reward breast cancer studies in their first or second academic positions.
Past
Early Investigator
Abde Abukhdeir, PhD
The molecular variants that lead or contribute to drug resistance in breast cancer
Past
Early Investigator
Nan Chen, MD
Discovering novel biomarkers of therapy response and resistance in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients
Past
Early Investigator
Peiwen Chen, PhD
Targeting macrophage reprogramming in brain metastatic breast cancer
Why your gift matters
Your gift helps researchers test bold ideas, generate critical data, and take the first steps toward the next major advancement in breast cancer treatment and care.Together, we can accelerate discoveries that save lives.
