Analisa DiFeo, PhD
Analisa DiFeo, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of Michigan Health System
Education
PhD: Cancer Genetics & Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York
Research Interests
Analisa DiFeo, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her doctoral research in 2008 at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York where she played a central role in defining alternative splicing of the KLF6 gene family as a key regulator in ovarian cancer. Prior to joining the University of Michigan Medical School in 2018, Dr. DiFeo was The Norma C. and Albert I. Geller Designated Professor in Ovarian Cancer Research and an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Medical Sciences (Oncology) at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. While at Case Western Reserve University, Dr. DiFeo developed the Gynecologic Oncology Translational Research Program and built a well-integrated, state-of-the-art research program with a rich repository of patient-derived cell lines and mouse ovarian cancer models that are highly useful for translational research and is perfectly poised to perform impactful translational research to detect ovarian cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. The work performed in the DiFeo laboratory spans the continuum of translational research starting with an in-depth analysis patient samples to functional assessment of key genetic drivers of ovarian cancer progression to the development of a novel therapeutic approach to abrogate these drivers in order to uncover therapies that will improve ovarian cancer patient survival. In order to accomplish this her lab focuses on four major areas: 1) generation of clinically relevant EOC models, 2) development of novel or re-purposed drugs that can work alone or in conjunction with current treatment options to combat this deadly disease, 3) discovery of miRNA as potent drivers of drug resistance and recurrence, and 4) identification of novel biomarkers for early detection or therapeutic response. Her dedication to cancer research is evidenced by her accomplishments, which include over 68 peer-reviewed publications and her ability to secure numerous federal, foundation and industry grants all focused on ovarian cancer including 3 Department of Defense awards, several Mary Kay Foundation awards, an Eli Lilly Research Award, R21 and R01 funding through the NCI. Lastly, through her efforts in bringing awareness to ovarian cancer and developing a gynecological cancer translational research program, she was chosen as Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 honoree in 2014 and received The Norma C. and Albert I. Geller Designated Professorship in Ovarian Cancer Research.
Beyond the aforementioned research, Dr. DiFeo devotes considerable effort to training and mentoring future cancer scientists. She has served numerous T32 Training Program steering committees and she co-founded and serve as Chair of the Board of Scientific Advisors of The Young Scientist Foundation (YSF) (ysf.org). She has trained numerous clinical and basic scientists in her laboratory including Gynecologic Oncology Fellows, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, medical students, undergraduates, high school students and she has served on over 20 PhD & MD/PhD thesis committees.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of Michigan Health System
Education
PhD: Cancer Genetics & Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York
Research Interests
Analisa DiFeo, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her doctoral research in 2008 at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York where she played a central role in defining alternative splicing of the KLF6 gene family as a key regulator in ovarian cancer. Prior to joining the University of Michigan Medical School in 2018, Dr. DiFeo was The Norma C. and Albert I. Geller Designated Professor in Ovarian Cancer Research and an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Medical Sciences (Oncology) at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. While at Case Western Reserve University, Dr. DiFeo developed the Gynecologic Oncology Translational Research Program and built a well-integrated, state-of-the-art research program with a rich repository of patient-derived cell lines and mouse ovarian cancer models that are highly useful for translational research and is perfectly poised to perform impactful translational research to detect ovarian cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. The work performed in the DiFeo laboratory spans the continuum of translational research starting with an in-depth analysis patient samples to functional assessment of key genetic drivers of ovarian cancer progression to the development of a novel therapeutic approach to abrogate these drivers in order to uncover therapies that will improve ovarian cancer patient survival. In order to accomplish this her lab focuses on four major areas: 1) generation of clinically relevant EOC models, 2) development of novel or re-purposed drugs that can work alone or in conjunction with current treatment options to combat this deadly disease, 3) discovery of miRNA as potent drivers of drug resistance and recurrence, and 4) identification of novel biomarkers for early detection or therapeutic response. Her dedication to cancer research is evidenced by her accomplishments, which include over 68 peer-reviewed publications and her ability to secure numerous federal, foundation and industry grants all focused on ovarian cancer including 3 Department of Defense awards, several Mary Kay Foundation awards, an Eli Lilly Research Award, R21 and R01 funding through the NCI. Lastly, through her efforts in bringing awareness to ovarian cancer and developing a gynecological cancer translational research program, she was chosen as Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 honoree in 2014 and received The Norma C. and Albert I. Geller Designated Professorship in Ovarian Cancer Research.
Beyond the aforementioned research, Dr. DiFeo devotes considerable effort to training and mentoring future cancer scientists. She has served numerous T32 Training Program steering committees and she co-founded and serve as Chair of the Board of Scientific Advisors of The Young Scientist Foundation (YSF) (ysf.org). She has trained numerous clinical and basic scientists in her laboratory including Gynecologic Oncology Fellows, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, medical students, undergraduates, high school students and she has served on over 20 PhD & MD/PhD thesis committees.