Scientific Areas of Expertise: Precision Medicine, Signal Transduction, Translational Research
For illuminating research on genomic alterations and key signaling pathways in head and neck cancer with the goal of enabling precision medicine studies.
An admired trailblazer in cancer research, Dr. Jennifer Grandis has defined the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in the development and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Her most notable work has focused on genetic and epigenetics alterations in the upper aerodigestive tract mucosa which mediates the HNSCC progression. In a pivotal study, Dr. Grandis determined that PIK3CA, the gene encoding the PI3K catalytic subunit, is mutated or amplified in 35% of HNSCC patient samples. She further linked these mutations with increased activation of the PI3K signaling pathway and overexpression of the COX2 enzyme. Consequentially, she elegantly showed that inhibitors of COX2 are associated with enhanced survival in patients harboring mutated or amplified PIK3CA, but not in patients with unaltered PIK3CA. More recently, her group reported the antitumor activity of aspirin in PTEN deficient HNSCC preclinical models. This work provides strong biological rationale to test the impact of aspirin in the adjuvant setting in HNSCC with the potential to improve survival in >300,000 patients worldwide annually.
Dr. Grandis is also revered for her research on the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its associated ligands in the coordination of activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) in HNSCC. Furthermore, she translated this finding into an effective Phase I clinical trial that investigated the toxicity and efficacy of EGFR antisense gene therapy. Dr. Grandis has also investigated novel design strategies to target the “undruggable” STAT3, including an innovative approach that used a short STAT3 decoy oligonucleotide to inhibit STAT3 binding to genomic DNA through competitive binding. This approach effectively reduced expression of STAT3 target genes, suppressed the growth of HNSCC cells and tumors and showed feasibility without toxicity in early clinical testing, including a phase I trial in pet cats with oral cancer. Dr. Grandis combines creative scientific thinking with her bench-to-bedside approach which has contributed to cancer research and improved the lives of patients afflicted with HNSCC.
Selected Awards and Honors
2020 Flexner Discovery Lecture, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
2019 AACR Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lectureship, American Association for Cancer Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2018 Outstanding Investigator Award, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
2017 Albert C. Muse Prize in Otolaryngology, Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2015 Peggy Wheelock Award for Excellence in Research, Mentoring, and Promotion of Women in Science University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
2014 William E. Brown Outstanding MSTP Mentor Award, Medical Scientist Training Program University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2012 Elected Member, National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC
2011 Provost’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2010 Elected Member, Association of American Physicians, Belleville, Michigan
2010 Philip Hench Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2009 Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2003 Scientific Leadership Award, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2002 Elected Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
1987 Leo H. Criep Award in Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1987 Kenneth H. Hinderer Award in Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
[Institutional affiliations listed for Fellows reflect those held at the time of their induction into the AACR Academy.]