Departmental Affiliations
Utthara Nayar, PhD, is a cancer biologist using functional genomics tools to understand and overcome tumor resistance to targeted therapies in breast and ovarian cancers.
Research Interests
Breast cancer; cancer biology; cell biology; functional genomics; signaling; high throughput screens; therapy resistance
Additional Links
Experiences & Accomplishments
The Nayar laboratory is focused on the biology of therapeutic resistance in breast cancer. Dr. Nayar recently identified a subset of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) metastatic breast cancer that is resistant to ER-targeted therapy by acquiring mutations in the growth factor molecule HER2. The scientific objective of the lab’s research program is to study tumor cell-intrinsic signaling, tumor evolution, and the tumor (+immune) microenvironment of resistant breast cancer, through cell, molecular, and large-scale genomic/epigenomic approaches.
Honors & Awards
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health
ASH Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology
AACR-Aflac,Inc. Scholar-in-Training Award, American Association for Cancer Research
Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award, American Association for Cancer Research
NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22), National Cancer Institute/ National Institutes of Health
Ho-Ching Yang Memorial Fellowship Faculty Innovation Fund Award
Discovery Award