Marisa Connell

Degrees

Research Interests

My previous research has focused on stem cells and the mechanisms that ensure their proper growth and division. Stem cells have the potential to repair or replace damaged tissues, offering hope for treating diseases that currently have limited options. However, their capacity for self-renewal and long life makes them vulnerable to mutations, which can transform them into cancerous cells. Cancer cells, particularly cancer stem cells, share similarities with normal stem cells: they can self-renew, proliferate indefinitely, and differentiate into various cell types. These traits enable tumors to grow, resist treatments, and recur. Understanding the shared properties of stem cells and cancer cells can reveal why some cancers are so aggressive and persistent, and may help scientists develop more effective therapies that specifically target the "root" cancer stem cells without harming healthy ones. One particular protein Kin17 was shown to be essential for development in Drosophila neural stem cells and has been shown to be overexpressed in many cancers. This has led me to shift the focus of my research from the role of Kin17 in Drosophila to identifying the mechanisms by which it functions in breast cancer cells.

Selected Publications

View Marisa Connell's publications.

Teaching Assignments

BIOS 722: Experimental Methods
BIOS 420/420L & 620/620L: Cell Biology & Cell Biology Lab
BIOS 430 & 630: Molecular Biology
BIOS 478: Stem Cells
BIOS 101: General Biology