Trever Bivona, M.D., Ph.D.

Research

The goal of my research is to explore how tumors with mutations in a specific cell communication process, known as the Ras signaling pathway, become resistant to drugs. Inappropriate activation of the Ras signaling pathway drives the development of a variety of human tumors, including cancers of the lung, pancreas, and colon. Unfortunately, drugs that block Ras function have been clinically ineffective and are often undermined by drug resistance. I discovered that eliminating a specific protein from cancer cells enhances the effectiveness of drugs that inhibit the Ras signaling pathway. Using genetics and tools from cellular and molecular biology, I will identify compounds that can block Ras function in tumor cells from patients. This work could reveal novel strategies for avoiding drug resistance and prolonging patient survival.