Medical Genetics

BIOGRAPHY

Senior investigator, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Institute on Aging, NIH. Adjunct professor, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical institutions. B.S. in Biophysics, 1989, Université of Québec. M.Sc. in Biophysics, 1991, Université of Québec. Ph.D. in Biology, 1995, Boston University. Postdoctoral Fellow, 1994-1998 in the laboratory of Drs Bert Vogelstein and Kenneth W Kinzler. Associate Editor, Cancer Research, 2003-present. Editorial Advisory Board, Current Cancer Therapy Reviews, 2004-Present. Chair AACR annual meeting minisymposiums (April 2000, March 2004). Study section member for Department of Defense (DOD) ovarian cancer programs (2004, 2005) and various other governmental and private funding agencies.

Research Interests:

Ovarian cancer is a major cause of cancer deaths in older women, yet very little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of this disease. We are using a variety of techniques, such as SAGE and microarrays, to study the molecular changes that occur during ovarian tumorigenesis. We have found that the tight junction protein claudins are highly elevated in ovarian cancer and we are elucidating the roles of these proteins in this cancer. Overall, our focus is directed at two major clinical problems in ovarian cancer: difficulty of early detection and the development of drug resistance. A better understanding of gene expression and pathways important in ovarian cancer development, as well as the changes in gene expression associated with drug resistance may lead to novel approaches for detection and therapy of this disease.

Patrice Morin was previously a Faculty Member for Genomics & Women's Health in the Women's Health Faculty. His evaluations during that time can be viewed here.