Joan Brugge

Joan Brugge

Joan Brugge, American cell biologist

Born	August 2, 1949
Birth place	Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Nationality	American
Known for	Research on oncogenes and breast cancer
Awards	National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Joan S. Brugge (born August 2, 1949) is a prominent American cell biologist renowned for her pioneering research in the field of oncogenes and breast cancer. She is currently a professor at Harvard Medical School and has made significant contributions to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive cancer progression.

Early Life and Education

Joan Brugge was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She then went on to earn her Ph.D. in virology from Baylor College of Medicine, where she worked under the mentorship of Arthur Kornberg, a Nobel laureate.

Research and Career

Brugge's early research focused on the study of oncogenes, which are genes that have the potential to cause cancer. Her work was instrumental in identifying the role of the Src oncogene in cancer development. She discovered that the Src protein is a tyrosine kinase, an enzyme that modifies other proteins by adding phosphate groups, which can lead to uncontrolled cell growth.

In the 1980s, Brugge joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, where she continued her research on cell signaling pathways involved in cancer. Her laboratory was among the first to demonstrate the importance of the extracellular matrix in regulating cell behavior and its implications in cancer metastasis.

In 1997, Brugge was appointed as a professor at Harvard Medical School, where she became the chair of the Department of Cell Biology. Her research at Harvard has focused on the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer, particularly the role of the tumor microenvironment and the processes of cell death and survival in cancer cells.

Awards and Honors

Joan Brugge has received numerous awards for her contributions to science, including election to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has also been recognized with the American Cancer Society Medal of Honor for her groundbreaking work in cancer research.

Personal Life

Brugge is known for her dedication to mentoring young scientists and her commitment to advancing the role of women in science. She has been an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the scientific community.

Also see

• Oncogene
• Breast cancer
• Cell signaling
• Harvard Medical School
• National Academy of Sciences