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[[File:Mary Beckerle.jpg|thumb|Mary Beckerle in 2012]] |
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'''Mary C. Beckerle''' is an American [[cell biologist]] who studies [[cancer]] at the [[Huntsman Cancer Institute]] at the [[University of Utah School of Medicine]]. At Huntsman Cancer Institute, she serves as the CEO and also as Associate Vice President for Cancer Affairs at the University of Utah. |
'''Mary C. Beckerle''' is an American [[cell biologist]] who studies [[cancer]] at the [[Huntsman Cancer Institute]] at the [[University of Utah School of Medicine]]. At Huntsman Cancer Institute, she serves as the CEO and also as Associate Vice President for Cancer Affairs at the University of Utah. Beckerle's research helped to define a novel molecular pathway for [[cell motility]], and more recently, she has begun research into [[Ewing’s sarcoma]], a pediatric bone cancer. Beckerle's lab made a ground breaking discovery in regards to Ewing's Sarcoma in relation to the EWS/FLI protein.<ref name="Reference A">Neufield, Erica. “Huntsman Cancer Institute Awarded Grant for Children's Cancer Research” CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. {{cite web|url=http://www.curesearch.org/Huntsman-Cancer-Institute-Investigator-Awarded-Grant-for-Childrens-Cancer-Research/ |title=Huntsman Cancer Institute Investigator Awarded Grant for Children's Cancer Research: CureSearch |access-date=2014-11-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224144505/http://www.curesearch.org/Huntsman-Cancer-Institute-Investigator-Awarded-Grant-for-Childrens-Cancer-Research/ |archive-date=2014-12-24 }}</ref> Her lab discovered EWS/FLI to disrupt the internal cellular skeleton, which decreases the ability of cells to adhere to their proper environment. This can help explain the metastasis of tumors in patients with Ewing's sarcoma. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Mary Catherine Beckerle was born in Rivers Edge, New Jersey to Martin and Mickey Beckerle. She is the oldest of three daughters |
Mary Catherine Beckerle was born in Rivers Edge, New Jersey to Martin and Mickey Beckerle. She is the oldest of three daughters. Her father worked at the New York Telephone Co. and died at the age of 36 of [[emphysema]].<ref name="Reference B">Benson, Lee, “They all want what Huntsman has — The woman in charge”. Deseret News. March 1, 2014. Accessed November 11, 2014.[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865597712/They-all-want-what-Huntsman-has-2-The-woman-in-charge.html?pg=all]</ref> Her mother was a registered nurse. After high school, Beckerle attended [[Wells College]] in New York, where she earned a B. A. in Biology and Psychology.<ref name="Reference B"/> She graduated ''magna cum laude'' and was a member of [[Phi Beta Kappa]].<ref name="Reference C">[https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175208/http://www.ascb.org/files/profiles/Mary_beckerle.pdf “Mary Beckerle” American Society of Cell Biology. 1994]</ref> Before continuing her education, she took a year off and worked in a cellular biology research laboratory at [[University of Texas]] Southwest Medical Center. After this, she attended the [[University of Colorado]] Boulder where she earned a PhD. in Molecular Biology. Her education then continued at the [[University of North Carolina]] Chapel Hill where she was a postdoctoral fellow in Anatomy and Cell Biology.<ref name="Reference A"/> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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⚫ | While at the [[University of North Carolina Chapel Hill]], Beckerle met David Murrell. She would go on to marry him. The couple shares one son |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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⚫ | Beckerle joined the University of Utah faculty as an assistant professor of biology. She continued at the University of Utah and was one of the first professors to move into the Huntsman Cancer Institute when it opened in 1999. Also in 1999, she was awarded the Ralph E. and Willa T. Main Presidential Endowed Chair in Cancer Research at the University of Utah.<ref name="DN2008"/> She led a program specializing in cancer cell biology until 2003. In 2003, she was named the deputy director of the center. In 2006, she was named the CEO and the director of Huntsman Cancer Institute. In 2009, she was also named the Associate Vice President for Cancer Affairs at the University of Utah. She holds the Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Endowed Chair at the University of Utah, where she has also been promoted to a distinguished professorship in the biology department.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://medicine.utah.edu/faculty/mddetail.php?facultyID=u0028589 | title=Mary C. Beckerle, PhD - Faculty Details - U of U School of Medicine - | University of Utah| date=19 March 2024}}</ref> |
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⚫ | In 1990, Beckerle served on the editorial board of [[Molecular Biology]] of the cell.<ref name="Reference C"/> She was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the Curie Institute in Paris in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.gf.org/fellows/all-fellows/mary-c-beckerle/ | title=John Simon Guggenheim Foundation | Mary C. Beckerle}}</ref> In 2006, Beckerle served as the president of the American Society of Cell Biology. She was elected to the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]] in 2008.<ref name="DN2008">{{Cite web | url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695274977/Huntsman-director-elected-to-academy.html | title=Huntsman director elected to academy| website=[[Deseret News]]| date=2008-04-30}}</ref> In 2013, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Association for Cancer Research.<ref>[http://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/research/labs/beckerle/mary-beckerle.php Mary Beckerle. Huntsman Cancer Institute]</ref> Beckerle was elected to the [[American Philosophical Society]] in the April 2017 group of inductees that also included [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="AmPhilSoc">{{cite web|title=Newly Elected – April 2017|url=https://amphilsoc.org/members/electedApril2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915195158/https://amphilsoc.org/members/electedApril2017|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 September 2017|website=amphilsoc.org|publisher=American Philosophical Society|access-date=23 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="APSDesNews">{{cite web|title=Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO inducted into American Philosophical Society|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865680521/Huntsman-Cancer-Institute-CEO-inducted-into-American-Philosophical-Society.html|website=deseretnews.com|date=22 May 2017|publisher=Deseret News|access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref> She was on the Life Sciences jury for the [[Infosys Prize]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Infosys Prize - Jury 2020|url=http://www.infosys-science-foundation.com/prize/jury/jury-2020.asp|access-date=2020-12-10|website=www.infosys-science-foundation.com}}</ref> |
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She is a member of the U. S. [[National Academy of Sciences]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/news/2021-nas-election.html|title=News from the National Academy of Sciences|date=2021-04-26|access-date=2021-07-01|quote=Newly elected members and their affiliations at the time of election are: ... Beckerle, Mary C.; chief executive officer and director, Huntsman Cancer Institute; and distinguished professor of biology and associate vice president for cancer affairs, University of Utah, Salt Lake City}}</ref> |
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=== 2017 Huntsman Cancer Institute Firing and Reinstatement === |
=== 2017 Huntsman Cancer Institute Firing and Reinstatement === |
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On 17 April 2017, Beckerle was terminated as CEO and Director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute via an email from University of Utah President [[David W. Pershing]] and Senior Vice President for Health Sciences [[Vivian Lee]]. The university did not disclose reasons for the dismissal, but members of the Huntsman family issued several public criticisms of the move, and called for Beckerle's reinstatement while criticizing the leadership shown by Pershing and Lee.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/5189972-155/acclaimed-researcher-out-at-utahs-huntsman | title=Huntsman says University of Utah 'power grab' is behind firing of acclaimed researcher from cancer institute top post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43916078&nid=148 | title=Huntsman Sr. Blasts the U. For firing of Cancer Institute director, says there is 'no excuse' for it}}</ref> In subsequent days, members of the family made media appearances, published full page newspaper ads reiterating their support for cancer research and Beckerle, and even called for the termination of top university officials.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sltrib.com/home/5203352-155/huntsman-calls-top-u-administrators-inept | title=Huntsman calls for 'inept' U. Administrators to be fired over cancer institute CEO's termination}}</ref> Beckerle's firing occurred as the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Foundation were negotiating terms for a new memorandum of understanding to govern the operations of Huntsman Cancer Institute.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2017/08/04/emails-firing-of-huntsman-cancer-institute-ceo-sparked-by-funding-operational-disputes/ | title=Emails explain clash between Huntsmans and the U. Over Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO's firing}}</ref> |
On 17 April 2017, Beckerle was terminated as CEO and Director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute via an email from University of Utah President [[David W. Pershing]] and Senior Vice President for Health Sciences [[Vivian Lee]]. The university did not disclose reasons for the dismissal, but members of the Huntsman family issued several public criticisms of the move, and called for Beckerle's reinstatement while criticizing the leadership shown by Pershing and Lee.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/5189972-155/acclaimed-researcher-out-at-utahs-huntsman | title=Huntsman says University of Utah 'power grab' is behind firing of acclaimed researcher from cancer institute top post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43916078&nid=148 | title=Huntsman Sr. Blasts the U. For firing of Cancer Institute director, says there is 'no excuse' for it}}</ref> In subsequent days, members of the family made media appearances, published full page newspaper ads reiterating their support for cancer research and Beckerle, and even called for the termination of top university officials.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sltrib.com/home/5203352-155/huntsman-calls-top-u-administrators-inept | title=Huntsman calls for 'inept' U. Administrators to be fired over cancer institute CEO's termination}}</ref> Beckerle's firing occurred as the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Foundation were negotiating terms for a new memorandum of understanding to govern the operations of Huntsman Cancer Institute.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2017/08/04/emails-firing-of-huntsman-cancer-institute-ceo-sparked-by-funding-operational-disputes/ | title=Emails explain clash between Huntsmans and the U. Over Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO's firing}}</ref> Some Huntsman Cancer Institute faculty and staff were among over 3600 individuals who signed a petition requesting Beckerle be restored to her position. On 19 April, roughly 100 demonstrators marched from the Huntsman Cancer Institute facilities across the university campus to the Office of President Pershing, calling for Beckerle's return. This came on the heels of other meetings and protests in the university community. On the morning of 25 April, the university's board of trustees met in a closed session, after which Pershing briefly spoke to reporters, mentioning that an announcement would be forthcoming later in the day. Within a few hours, it was announced that Beckerle would be reinstated as CEO and Director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and would report directly to the University President, bypassing Vivian Lee.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/5215605-155/pershing-beckerle-reinstated-to-helm-of?fullpage=1 | title=In major reversal, U. Reinstates fired Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO}}</ref> On 28 April, Vivian Lee announced via email that, effective the same day, she was stepping down as the university's senior vice president for health sciences, dean of the medical school, and CEO of the healthcare system.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/5231822-155/u-health-care-ceo-vivian-lee | title=U. Health Care CEO Vivian Lee resigns after cancer institute controversy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ksl.com/?sid=44043827&nid=148&title=dr-vivian-lee-resigns-post-at-u-health-care- | title=Dr. Vivian Lee resigns post at University of Utah}}</ref> |
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==Research and Ewing’s Sarcoma== |
==Research and Ewing’s Sarcoma== |
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⚫ | Beckerle's research employs several different techniques to exam signaling problems and [[cell motility]] issues. Ewing's Sarcoma is a bone cancer affecting mainly children and adolescents.<ref>[http://www.stjude.org/ewing-sarcoma Ewing Sarcoma. St’ Jude’s Children’s Hospital]</ref> Tumors of Ewing' Sarcoma are typically found in the long bones of the legs and arms, or bones in the chest, trunk, pelvis, back, or head.<ref>[http://www.webmd.com/cancer/ewings-sarcoma Ewing’s Sarcoma. WebMD]</ref> Beckerle's research in this area focuses on a key pathway as believed to be a mechanism by which the cancer cells can spread. Ewing sarcoma occurs due to a chromosomal mutation that causes an atypical protein, known as EWS/FLI, to be present (also called expressed), and that when EWS/FLI is expressed, literally thousands of genes are misregulated, leading to abnormal behavior. Beckerle's lab found that the EWS/FLI protein disrupted cell adhesion and limited the ability of cells to remain in their normal environment. The EWS/FLI protein is difficult to regulate so Beckerle's team is focused on an essential regulating protein called lysine specific demethylase (LSD1). Preliminary research has aimed to halt the function of LSD1 to prevent the spread of Ewing Sarcoma cells.<ref name="Reference A"/> |
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Beckerle’s research employs several different techniques to exam signaling problems and [[cell motility]] issues. Both of these problems could potentially play a role in the development of Ewing’s sarcoma. Her lab is currently focusing on projects involving: the physiological roles of the motility machinery in normal and transformed cells, cell adhesion events at the cell surface can affect processes that depend on the activity of the cell nucleus, how the cell integrates information from multiple receptors to achieve the appropriate response. |
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==Selected publications== |
==Selected publications== |
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*{{cite journal|last=Beckerle |first=MC|date=2010|title=How cell biologists can contribute to improving cancer outcomes|journal=Mol Biol Cell|volume=21|number=22|pages=3788–9|doi=10.1091/mbc.e10-05-0423|pmid=21079011|pmc=2982089}} |
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# Smith MA, Blankman E, Deakin NO, Hoffman LM, Jensen CC, Turner CE, Beckerle MC. (2013) LIM domains target actin regulators paxillin and zyxin to sites of stress fiber strain. PLoS One. 8(8):e69378.<ref>Smith MA, Blankman E, Deakin NO, Hoffman LM, Jensen CC, Turner CE, Beckerle MC. (2013) LIM domains target actin regulators paxillin and zyxin to sites of stress fiber strain. PLoS One. 8(8):e69378.[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23555310]</ref> |
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*{{cite journal|last1=Pronovost |first1=SM|last2=Beckerle |first2=MC|last3=Kadrmas |first3=JL |date=2013|title=Elevated expression of the integrin-associated protein PINCH suppresses the defects of Drosophila melanogaster muscle hypercontraction mutants|journal=PLOS Genet |volume=9|number=3|pages=e1003406 |doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.1003406 |pmid=23555310 |pmc=3610608 |doi-access=free }} |
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*{{cite journal|last1=Chapin |first1=LM|last2=Blankman |first2=E|last3=Smith |first3=MA|last4=Shiu |first4=YT|last5=Beckerle |first5=MC|date=2012|title=Lateral communication between stress fiber sarcomeres facilitates a local remodeling response|journal=Biophys. J. |volume=103|number=10|pages=2082–92|doi=10.1016/j.bpj.2012.09.038|pmid=23200042|pmc=3512046|bibcode=2012BpJ...103.2082C|doi-access=free}} |
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# Chapin LM, Blankman E, Smith MA, Shiu YT, Beckerle MC. (2012) Lateral communication between stress fiber sarcomeres facilitates a local remodeling response. Biophys J. 103(10):2082-92.<ref>Chapin LM, Blankman E, Smith MA, Shiu YT, Beckerle MC. (2012) Lateral communication between stress fiber sarcomeres facilitates a local remodeling response. Biophys J. 103(10):2082-92.[Integrin-beta5 and zyxin mediate formation of ventral stress fibers in response to transforming growth factor beta.Bianchi-Smiraglia A, Kunnev D, Limoge M, Lee A, Beckerle MC, Bakin AV (2013). Integrin-beta5 and zyxin mediate formation of ventral stress fibers in response to transforming growth factor beta. Cell Cycle, 12(21), 3377-89.]</ref> |
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*{{cite journal|last1=Elias |first1=MC|last2=Pronovost |first2=SM|last3=Cahill |first3=KJ|last4=Beckerle |first4=MC|last5=Kadrmas |first5=JL|date=2012|title=A crucial role for Ras suppressor-1 (RSU-1) revealed when PINCH and ILK binding is disrupted|journal=J Cell Sci|volume=125|number=Pt 13|pages=3185–94|doi=10.1242/jcs.101386|pmid=22467865|pmc=3434853}} |
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# Elias MC, Pronovost SM, Cahill KJ, Beckerle MC, Kadrmas JL. (2012) A crucial role for Ras suppressor-1 (RSU-1) revealed when PINCH and ILK binding is disrupted. J Cell Sci. 125(Pt 13):3185-94.<ref>Elias MC, Pronovost SM, Cahill KJ, Beckerle MC, Kadrmas JL. (2012) A crucial role for Ras suppressor-1 (RSU-1) revealed when PINCH and ILK binding is disrupted. J Cell Sci. 125(Pt 13):3185-94.[A novel role for keratin 17 in coordinating oncogenic transformation and cellular adhesion in Ewing sarcoma.Sankar S, Tanner JM, Bell R, Chaturvedi A, Randall RL, Beckerle MC, Lessnick SL (2013). A novel role for keratin 17 in coordinating oncogenic transformation and cellular adhesion in Ewing sarcoma. Mol Cell Biol, 33(22), 4448-60.]</ref> |
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*{{cite journal|last1=Hoffman |first1=LM|last2=Jensen |first2=CC|last3=Chaturvedi |first3=A|last4=Yoshigi |first4=M|last5=Beckerle|first5=MC|date=2012 |title=Stretch-induced actin remodeling requires targeting of zyxin to stress fibers and recruitment of actin regulators|journal=Mol Biol Cell|volume=23|number=10|pages=1846–59|doi=10.1091/mbc.e11-12-1057|pmid=22456508|pmc=3350550|s2cid=19368851|doi-access=free}} |
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*{{cite journal|last1=Chaturvedi |first1=A|last2=Hoffman |first2=LM|last3=Welm |first3=AL|last4=Lessnick |first4=SL|last5=Beckerle |first5=MC |date=2012|title=The EWS/FLI Oncogene Drives Changes in Cellular Morphology, Adhesion, and Migration in Ewing Sarcoma|journal=Genes Cancer|volume=3|number=2|pages=102–16|doi=10.1177/1947601912457024|pmid=23050043|pmc=3463921}} |
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*{{cite journal|last1=Smith |first1=MA|last2=Blankman |first2=E|last3=Deakin |first3=NO|last4=Hoffman |first4=LM|last5=Jensen |first5=CC|last6=Turner |first6=CE|last7=Beckerle |first7=MC|date=2013|title=LIM domains target actin regulators paxillin and zyxin to sites of stress fiber strain|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=8|number=8|pages=e69378|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0069378|pmid=23990882|pmc=3749209|bibcode=2013PLoSO...869378S|s2cid=18689737|doi-access=free}} |
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# Beckerle MC. (2010) How cell biologists can contribute to improving cancer outcomes. Mol Biol Cell. 21(22):3788-9.<ref>Beckerle MC. (2010) How cell biologists can contribute to improving cancer outcomes. Mol Biol Cell. 21(22):3788-9.[A crucial role for Ras suppressor-1 (RSU-1) revealed when PINCH and ILK binding is disrupted.Elias MC, Pronovost SM, Cahill KJ, Beckerle MC, Kadrmas JL (2012). A crucial role for Ras suppressor-1 (RSU-1) revealed when PINCH and ILK binding is disrupted. J Cell Sci, 125(Pt 13), 3185-94.]</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:University of Utah faculty]] |
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[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]] |
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[[Category:Biologists from New York (state)]] |
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[[Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences]] |
Latest revision as of 06:33, 23 June 2024
Mary C. Beckerle is an American cell biologist who studies cancer at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah School of Medicine. At Huntsman Cancer Institute, she serves as the CEO and also as Associate Vice President for Cancer Affairs at the University of Utah. Beckerle's research helped to define a novel molecular pathway for cell motility, and more recently, she has begun research into Ewing’s sarcoma, a pediatric bone cancer. Beckerle's lab made a ground breaking discovery in regards to Ewing's Sarcoma in relation to the EWS/FLI protein.[1] Her lab discovered EWS/FLI to disrupt the internal cellular skeleton, which decreases the ability of cells to adhere to their proper environment. This can help explain the metastasis of tumors in patients with Ewing's sarcoma.
Early life
[edit]Mary Catherine Beckerle was born in Rivers Edge, New Jersey to Martin and Mickey Beckerle. She is the oldest of three daughters. Her father worked at the New York Telephone Co. and died at the age of 36 of emphysema.[2] Her mother was a registered nurse. After high school, Beckerle attended Wells College in New York, where she earned a B. A. in Biology and Psychology.[2] She graduated magna cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.[3] Before continuing her education, she took a year off and worked in a cellular biology research laboratory at University of Texas Southwest Medical Center. After this, she attended the University of Colorado Boulder where she earned a PhD. in Molecular Biology. Her education then continued at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where she was a postdoctoral fellow in Anatomy and Cell Biology.[1]
Personal life
[edit]While at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Beckerle met David Murrell. She would go on to marry him. The couple shares one son.[3]
Career
[edit]Beckerle joined the University of Utah faculty as an assistant professor of biology. She continued at the University of Utah and was one of the first professors to move into the Huntsman Cancer Institute when it opened in 1999. Also in 1999, she was awarded the Ralph E. and Willa T. Main Presidential Endowed Chair in Cancer Research at the University of Utah.[4] She led a program specializing in cancer cell biology until 2003. In 2003, she was named the deputy director of the center. In 2006, she was named the CEO and the director of Huntsman Cancer Institute. In 2009, she was also named the Associate Vice President for Cancer Affairs at the University of Utah. She holds the Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Endowed Chair at the University of Utah, where she has also been promoted to a distinguished professorship in the biology department.[5]
In 1990, Beckerle served on the editorial board of Molecular Biology of the cell.[3] She was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the Curie Institute in Paris in 1999.[6] In 2006, Beckerle served as the president of the American Society of Cell Biology. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2008.[4] In 2013, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Association for Cancer Research.[7] Beckerle was elected to the American Philosophical Society in the April 2017 group of inductees that also included Barack Obama.[8][9] She was on the Life Sciences jury for the Infosys Prize in 2020.[10]
She is a member of the U. S. National Academy of Sciences.[11]
2017 Huntsman Cancer Institute Firing and Reinstatement
[edit]On 17 April 2017, Beckerle was terminated as CEO and Director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute via an email from University of Utah President David W. Pershing and Senior Vice President for Health Sciences Vivian Lee. The university did not disclose reasons for the dismissal, but members of the Huntsman family issued several public criticisms of the move, and called for Beckerle's reinstatement while criticizing the leadership shown by Pershing and Lee.[12][13] In subsequent days, members of the family made media appearances, published full page newspaper ads reiterating their support for cancer research and Beckerle, and even called for the termination of top university officials.[14] Beckerle's firing occurred as the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Foundation were negotiating terms for a new memorandum of understanding to govern the operations of Huntsman Cancer Institute.[15] Some Huntsman Cancer Institute faculty and staff were among over 3600 individuals who signed a petition requesting Beckerle be restored to her position. On 19 April, roughly 100 demonstrators marched from the Huntsman Cancer Institute facilities across the university campus to the Office of President Pershing, calling for Beckerle's return. This came on the heels of other meetings and protests in the university community. On the morning of 25 April, the university's board of trustees met in a closed session, after which Pershing briefly spoke to reporters, mentioning that an announcement would be forthcoming later in the day. Within a few hours, it was announced that Beckerle would be reinstated as CEO and Director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and would report directly to the University President, bypassing Vivian Lee.[16] On 28 April, Vivian Lee announced via email that, effective the same day, she was stepping down as the university's senior vice president for health sciences, dean of the medical school, and CEO of the healthcare system.[17][18]
Research and Ewing’s Sarcoma
[edit]Beckerle's research employs several different techniques to exam signaling problems and cell motility issues. Ewing's Sarcoma is a bone cancer affecting mainly children and adolescents.[19] Tumors of Ewing' Sarcoma are typically found in the long bones of the legs and arms, or bones in the chest, trunk, pelvis, back, or head.[20] Beckerle's research in this area focuses on a key pathway as believed to be a mechanism by which the cancer cells can spread. Ewing sarcoma occurs due to a chromosomal mutation that causes an atypical protein, known as EWS/FLI, to be present (also called expressed), and that when EWS/FLI is expressed, literally thousands of genes are misregulated, leading to abnormal behavior. Beckerle's lab found that the EWS/FLI protein disrupted cell adhesion and limited the ability of cells to remain in their normal environment. The EWS/FLI protein is difficult to regulate so Beckerle's team is focused on an essential regulating protein called lysine specific demethylase (LSD1). Preliminary research has aimed to halt the function of LSD1 to prevent the spread of Ewing Sarcoma cells.[1]
Selected publications
[edit]- Beckerle, MC (2010). "How cell biologists can contribute to improving cancer outcomes". Mol Biol Cell. 21 (22): 3788–9. doi:10.1091/mbc.e10-05-0423. PMC 2982089. PMID 21079011.
- Pronovost, SM; Beckerle, MC; Kadrmas, JL (2013). "Elevated expression of the integrin-associated protein PINCH suppresses the defects of Drosophila melanogaster muscle hypercontraction mutants". PLOS Genet. 9 (3): e1003406. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1003406. PMC 3610608. PMID 23555310.
- Chapin, LM; Blankman, E; Smith, MA; Shiu, YT; Beckerle, MC (2012). "Lateral communication between stress fiber sarcomeres facilitates a local remodeling response". Biophys. J. 103 (10): 2082–92. Bibcode:2012BpJ...103.2082C. doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2012.09.038. PMC 3512046. PMID 23200042.
- Elias, MC; Pronovost, SM; Cahill, KJ; Beckerle, MC; Kadrmas, JL (2012). "A crucial role for Ras suppressor-1 (RSU-1) revealed when PINCH and ILK binding is disrupted". J Cell Sci. 125 (Pt 13): 3185–94. doi:10.1242/jcs.101386. PMC 3434853. PMID 22467865.
- Hoffman, LM; Jensen, CC; Chaturvedi, A; Yoshigi, M; Beckerle, MC (2012). "Stretch-induced actin remodeling requires targeting of zyxin to stress fibers and recruitment of actin regulators". Mol Biol Cell. 23 (10): 1846–59. doi:10.1091/mbc.e11-12-1057. PMC 3350550. PMID 22456508. S2CID 19368851.
- Chaturvedi, A; Hoffman, LM; Welm, AL; Lessnick, SL; Beckerle, MC (2012). "The EWS/FLI Oncogene Drives Changes in Cellular Morphology, Adhesion, and Migration in Ewing Sarcoma". Genes Cancer. 3 (2): 102–16. doi:10.1177/1947601912457024. PMC 3463921. PMID 23050043.
- Smith, MA; Blankman, E; Deakin, NO; Hoffman, LM; Jensen, CC; Turner, CE; Beckerle, MC (2013). "LIM domains target actin regulators paxillin and zyxin to sites of stress fiber strain". PLOS ONE. 8 (8): e69378. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...869378S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069378. PMC 3749209. PMID 23990882. S2CID 18689737.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Neufield, Erica. “Huntsman Cancer Institute Awarded Grant for Children's Cancer Research” CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. "Huntsman Cancer Institute Investigator Awarded Grant for Children's Cancer Research: CureSearch". Archived from the original on 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2014-11-26.
- ^ a b Benson, Lee, “They all want what Huntsman has — The woman in charge”. Deseret News. March 1, 2014. Accessed November 11, 2014.[1]
- ^ a b c “Mary Beckerle” American Society of Cell Biology. 1994
- ^ a b "Huntsman director elected to academy". Deseret News. 2008-04-30.
- ^ "Mary C. Beckerle, PhD - Faculty Details - U of U School of Medicine - | University of Utah". 19 March 2024.
- ^ "John Simon Guggenheim Foundation | Mary C. Beckerle".
- ^ Mary Beckerle. Huntsman Cancer Institute
- ^ "Newly Elected – April 2017". amphilsoc.org. American Philosophical Society. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ "Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO inducted into American Philosophical Society". deseretnews.com. Deseret News. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- ^ "Infosys Prize - Jury 2020". www.infosys-science-foundation.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
- ^ "News from the National Academy of Sciences". 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
Newly elected members and their affiliations at the time of election are: ... Beckerle, Mary C.; chief executive officer and director, Huntsman Cancer Institute; and distinguished professor of biology and associate vice president for cancer affairs, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
- ^ "Huntsman says University of Utah 'power grab' is behind firing of acclaimed researcher from cancer institute top post".
- ^ "Huntsman Sr. Blasts the U. For firing of Cancer Institute director, says there is 'no excuse' for it".
- ^ "Huntsman calls for 'inept' U. Administrators to be fired over cancer institute CEO's termination".
- ^ "Emails explain clash between Huntsmans and the U. Over Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO's firing".
- ^ "In major reversal, U. Reinstates fired Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO".
- ^ "U. Health Care CEO Vivian Lee resigns after cancer institute controversy".
- ^ "Dr. Vivian Lee resigns post at University of Utah".
- ^ Ewing Sarcoma. St’ Jude’s Children’s Hospital
- ^ Ewing’s Sarcoma. WebMD