My research career has been focused on the prediction, prevention, early detection, and treatment of ovarian cancers. I am clinically trained as an OBGYN and gynecologic oncologist and practice the full spectrum of gynecologic cancer care including screening, risk-reducing surgeries, radical cytoreductive surgery, chemotherapy, and survivorship care. My basic science training includes formal training in immunology (at NIH), cancer biology (at Dana-Farber), and nanotechnology / chemical engineering (at MIT). In my role, 75% of my effort is protected for research. My background positions me to lead basic science, preclinical, and clinical investigations related to ovarian cancer, and I actively direct efforts in all three phases of research.
Since 2018, I have been a principal investigator of a translational research laboratory. Our work focuses on three main areas. First, we have developed mathematical models combining circulating microRNAs with protein and clinical biomarkers to both identify individuals at increased cancer risk and to diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer. This work has been patented and commercially developed as the OvaInform assay. Second, we create three-dimensional tissue culture systems to model early events in ovarian cancer pathogenesis at the ovarian - fallopian tube interface. Third, we engineer polymeric nanoparticles for tissue specific delivery of DNA plasmids for cancer therapy or imaging contrast agents.
In terms of clinical research, I have been the Principal Investigator of multiple cooperative group, industry, and foundation-led clinical trials for ovarian cancer diagnosis and therapy. I direct the Cleveland Clinic gynecologic oncology clinical biorepository, and I am the co-PI of the microRNA Detection (MiDe) study, a nationwide, prospective clinical trial of microRNA-based screening for ovarian cancer among high-risk individuals.
I currently serve as an Associate Editor of Gynecologic Oncology.