10/1993 University of Buenos Aires, School of Sciences. M.Science. Biology

12/1998 University of Buenos Aires, School of Sciences PhD.Biology

1999-2004 Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab., CA, USA Postdoc Cell Biology

Since 2008: Teacher for Graduate Curse in Cancer at IBYME

2008, 2010, 2012 & 2014: Teaching at the Post graduate Curse “Cancer, from the bench to the bedside” at IBYME.

2006-2009: Co-Director Doctoral Fellowship from CONICET of M. Victoria Wargon. Director Dr. Lanari

2008-2009: MS Thesis in Biology, School of Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Marina Riggio.

2009-2014: Ph.D. Thesis in Biology and Graduate Fellowship from CONICET for M. Laura Polo

2009-2014: Ph.D Thesis and Graduate Fellowship from SECYT & from CONICET for Marina Riggio

2011-2012: Co-Director Postdoctoral Fellowship from CONICET for M. Victoria Wargon, Director Dr. Lanari

2013: Fulbright Fellowship Visiting Scholar Program for M. Laura Polo, at Dr. Derek Radisky’s Lab, Mayo Clinic

2014: Training MD Students D. Zhou, K. Chung, A. Vani and B. Abiri from New York University, School of Medicine. NYU’s International Health Project Program.

2014-2016: Postdoctoral Fellowship from National Institute of Cancer (INC) & from CONICET for M. Laura Polo

2014: Ph.D in Biology, School of Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina for M. Laura Polo

2014-2015: Graduate Fellowship from National Institute of Cancer for M. Cecilia Perrone

2014-2015: MS Thesis in Biology, School of Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, M. Jimena Rodríguez

2015-2016: Ph.D Advanced Students from INC for Marina Riggio

1997-1999: Asociación Argentina de Farmacología Experimental (SAFE).

2000- 2003: American Society for Cell Biology.

1999 -present: American Association for Cancer Research.

2006-present: Sociedad Argentina de Investigaciones Clínicas (SAIC).

2010-present: Health and Biosecurity Member at IBYME.

My background is in cell biology and experimental oncology. The aim of the Protein Kinases and Cancer Laboratory that I direct since 2013 at IBYME-CONICET, Argentina, is to understand the role of protein kinases, in particular the role of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, in breast cancer progression and tumor regression. Using diverse pre-clinical models of breast cancer we have focused on two crucial events in mammary gland carcinogenesis. First, we have demonstrated the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in hormone-independent tumor growth and endocrine resistance. Second, we asked how and in which tumor types PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors contribute to the antitumor effect of endocrine agents, or even if the inhibitors could replace them when the endocrine therapy has become ineffective in inducing tumor regression. With this aim, we have recently initiated the evaluation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activation in human samples of luminal breast cancer at different stages. Our results suggest that the selection criteria for patients that might go to a PI3K/mTOR targeted-therapy schedule should consider the evaluation of biomarkers within the tumor parenchyma, indicators of an activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. On the other hand, the evaluation of an activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in the tumor stroma after exposure to an endocrine therapy might predict failure of combined endocrine plus PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors. Further studies are required to extend this observation to a broad cohort of patients and therapeutic conditions. Leading a project focused on the role of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and downstream pathways on cancer progression is an excellent opportunity to consolidate my career in basic/translational research and to constitute a solid and an interdisciplinary group of scientists, oncologists, advocates, from our and other institutions involved in the fight against cancer.

11/2008 – 11/2011: PICT 2007-00939 from SECYT, Argentina. “Protein kinases regulation of endocrine sensitivity of breast cancer”.

2/2010 – 2/2013: PIP 2010-2012 #692 from CONICET, Argentina. “Tumor microenvironment and intracelular signaling in the regulation of endocrine sensitivity in breast cancer”.

1/2011 – present, with renewal: The National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Argentina, provides the Principal Investigator her annual salary under the project entitled: “Involvement of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in breast cancer progression and regression”.

5/2013 – 5/2016: PICT 2012-1244 from SECYT, Argentina. “Activation of PI3K/AKT by FGF2: role in breast tumor progression and regression”.

12/2013 – 12/2015: Research Project PIP 2013-2015 # 603 from CONICET, Argentina. ¨Acquisition of hormone - independence in breast cancer. Interaction between FGFR and hormone receptors¨.

4/2014 - 4/2016: Basic Research in Cancer, Program from National Institute of Cancer (INC), Health Ministry, Argentina. ¨Molecular mechanisms involved in tumor regression after endocrine and PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors in two experimental models of breast cancer ¨.

6/2014 – 6/2016: Research Grant for Young Investigators from Fundacion J. Roemmers, Argentina. “Study of stromal reaction as a prognostic and predictive marker in breast cancer”

2010: Prize 'Eugenia Sacerdote de Lustig' from CEDIQUIFA

2015: Prize to the Best Poster at The Third South American Spring Symposium SISTAM Bariloche

2015: Mention to Merit in the Biannual Prize Fundación Florencia Fiorini for the work PI3K/Akt in the progression of the breast cancer¨ from Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental IBYME-CONICET, authors Marina Riggio, Cecilia Perrone, María Laura Polo, María May, Ana Sahores, Jimena Rodriguez, Diego Lucas Kaen, Claudia Lanari and Virginia Novaro.