2007 Early Career Investigator Grant Recipient — Deborah Altomare, PhD

Project Summary

The high morbidity of ovarian cancer is largely attributed to the rapid proliferation of tumor cells that spread to multiple abdominal organs. By understanding the molecular pathways that lead to ovarian cancer growth and progression, it may be possible to stop these processes with new drugs or interventions. Dr. Altomare’s research focuses on a molecular family of molecules called AKT kinases and their role in ovarian cancer tumor growth and progression. The objective of her research is to provide an improved understanding of how the three different AKT kinases interact with other molecules in ovarian cancer cells s to facilitate tumor cell proliferation, survival and/or metastasis. Both human ovarian cancer cells and genetically defined mouse models will be used in her studies.

Bio

Dr. Deborah Altomare is an Assistant Professor at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Director of the Transgenic Facility at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL.