Sofia D. Merajver, MD, PhD

2009-2010 BCRF Project:
Highly aggressive breast cancers are difficult to treat and have poor prognosis. Dr. Merajver's laboratory discovered that certain genes called Rho promote the movement of breast cancer cells and their invasion into tissues and blood and lymphatic vessels. In this project, they will understand how the Rho molecule functions inside a breast cancer cell and will test new potential drugs against it. The researchers are also studying the function of the molecule Rho as it signals instructions inside the cell to cause movement and invasion. this work will help us develop new therapies that fight the cancer's ability to move to organs.

This work is important for different regions around the world, especially in North Africa (Egypt, Algiers, Morocco, and Tunisia), where a very aggressive form of breast cancer, termed inflammatory breast cancer, may account for as many as 15% of cases of breast cancer. Her team has relatively new studies of inflammatory breast cancer underway in Uganda where there are very aggressive forms of breast cancer that occur in younger women who have great difficulty accessing good breast cancer care. They have the overall goal of understanding the causes of aggressive breast cancer types worldwide to help prevent and treat the disease.

Mid-Year Progress Report:
It is Dr Merajver's overarching premise that by dissecting its function in live cells through spectroscopic experiments and mathematical modeling, she and her laboratory will be able to advance strategies for therapies against RhoC. On all fronts, thanks in large measure to the BCRF grant, they are making important progress. They have achieved true milestone advances in each of the areas of study that have reached the peer reviewed literature already with 9 new papers since her last report, and 4 more in press so far in January, 2010. The new manuscripts in this funding cycle span the subjects of mathematical models, molecular genetics, and population studies. These multidisciplinary efforts are highly integrated lines of attack against IBC at once. The researchers look forward to continuing these productive lines of investigation that are paving the way towards conquering this disease on all fronts, notably in Africa, where it is a massive public health problem,that appears to be worsening.

Bio:
I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I was very fortunate to be exposed from an early age to writers, philosophers, and scientists who often visited my home. I began my graduate studies in Physics at the University of Buenos Aires, but continued at the University of Maryland after I emigrated to the USA, due to the difficult political situation in Argentina in the early 70's.

I received a BS in Mathematics, and a Master's and a PhD degree in Physics from the University of Maryland. My PhD thesis dealt with the fluidity of lipid membranes in cells. My postdoctoral project at the Naval Research Laboratory focused on laser spectroscopy of biomembranes. This work helped cement my love and passion for biology and my resolve to eventually pursue a career in biomedical research. After heading my own well-funded laboratory in physics for a few years, I decided to return to school at the University of Michigan where I have pursued my medical career.

I am a board certified internist and medical oncologist and I am presently co-director (with Dr. Daniel Hayes) of the Breast Oncology Program at the U of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC); I also direct the UMCCC Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Evaluation Program. I am a physician scientist specializing in aggressive breast cancer phenotypes and in the molecular basis for metastasis and angiogenesis. All of my research ideas emanate from my clinical experience, so I consider myself extremely privileged to both see patients and direct a basic science laboratory where, together with many collaborators, we try to develop novel therapies for breast cancer.

As of January 1, 2010, I am the new Director of the University of Michigan Center for Global Health. I am delighted to lead this effort and to help build new projects in chronic disease with an emphasis on cancer throughout the developing world. Our mission is "Science in the Service of Global Health Equity" Of course, I want breast cancer to be a major focus. I am still keeping my lab and the scientific direction of the Breast Oncology program and my clinic.

When I am not in my lab or clinic or caring for my children, I like to run, read, and travel to places where I can see great art and to countries with scarce resources, where I can try to make a difference for the better in the lives of those affected with breast cancer.