Cancer Biology & Genetics Program

The Robert Benezra Lab

Research

Robert Benezra, PhD
Deputy Director for Core Technologies; Laura and Christopher Pucillo Chair in Metastasis Research

My research program focuses on two areas of cell biology: the molecular mechanisms of mammalian cell differentiation and mitotic checkpoint control. Though seemingly unrelated, both areas as described below continue to provide fertile ground for the analysis of molecular mechanisms and have direct application to cancer biology. In the most general terms, we are exploring the role of the Id proteins in controlling the growth and differentiation of tumor cells and the vasculature that supports their growth and metastatic progression. In addition, we are examining the role of the mitotic checkpoint gene Mad2 in maintaining genome stability by ensuring proper chromosome segregation during mitosis.

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Publications

Benezra, R., Davis, R.L., Lockshon, D., Turner, D.L. & Weintraub, H. (1990). The protein Id: a negative regulator of helix-loop-helix DNA binding proteins. Cell 61(1):49-59.

Jen, Y., Weintraub, H. & Benezra, R. (1992). Overexpression of Id protein inhibits the muscle differentiation program: in vivo association of Id with E2A proteins. Genes Dev 6(8):1466-79.

Pesce, S. & Benezra, R. (1993). The loop region of the helix-loop-helix protein Id1 is critical for its dominant negative activity. Mol Cell Biol 13(12):7874-80.

Tournay, O. & Benezra, R. (1996). Transcription of the dominant-negative helix-loop-helix protein Id1 is regulated by a protein complex containing the immediate-early response gene Egr-1. Mol Cell Biol 16(5):2418-30.

Li ,Y. & Benezra, R. (1996). Identification of a human mitotic checkpoint gene: hsMAD2. Science 274(5285):246-8.

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People

Robert Benezra, PhD

Robert Benezra, PhD

Deputy Director for Core Technologies; Laura and Christopher Pucillo Chair in Metastasis Research

  • Cancer biologist Robert Benezra studies the molecular mechanisms of tumor growth and metastatic progression using mouse models. In addition, he studies the spindle assembly checkpoint which ensures proper chromosome segregation and is often deregulated in cancer.
  • PhD, Columbia University
646-888-2812
Office Phone

Members

Robert Benezra, PhD
Robert Benezra

Lab Head; Laura and Christopher Pucillo Chair in Metastasis Research

Yvette Chin

Research Assistant

Riddhi Shah
Riddhi Shah

Research Assistant

Paulina Wojnarowicz, PhD
Paulina Wojnarowicz

Research Fellow

Sergey Yaklichkin

Research Fellow

Saurabh Yadav
Saurabh Yadav

Research Fellow

Lab Alumni
Bhishma Amlani
Bhishma Amlani

Graduate Student

Lindy Barrett

Research Fellow

Courtney Coker
Courtney Coker

Research Technician

Pascal Duijf, PhD
Pascal Duijf

Research Fellow

Marta Garcia Cao
Marta Garcia Cao
Ingrid Levy
Ingrid Levy

Assistant to Dr. Robert Benezra

Daniel H. Marks
Daniel H. Marks

Principal at RA Capital, Boston, MA

Miriam Moctezuma

Graduate Student

Svetlana Pavlovic
Svetlana Pavlovic

Graduate Student

Marko Stankic
Marko Stankic

Graduate Student

Rozario Thomas
Rozario Thomas

Graduate Student

Efua Degraft-Johnson
Efua Degraft-Johnson

Research Assistant

Marta Garcia Escolano
Marta Garcia Escolano

Graduate Student

Zvika Granot, PhD
Zvika Granot

Research Fellow

Juan Manuel Schvartzman, MD
Juan Manuel Schvartzman

Graduate Student

Lab Affiliations

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