Martina Bazzaro
,
Credentials
PhD

Associate Professor
Biography

Bio

Dr. Bazzaro is a Tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health and Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota. She earned a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the Department of Pharmaceutical Science of the University of Ferrara, Italy.

Dr. Bazzaro served as guest researcher at the "Institut de Biochemie" in Lausanne, Switzerland and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

She competed her postdoctoral training at the Department of Pathology of the Johns Hopkins Hospital.Dr. Bazzaro is an Italian citizen, U.S.A permanent resident and speaks English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

Administrator Information

Kristina Cecka
Administrative Phone: 612-626-3111
Administrative Email: ceck0012@umn.edu

Research Summary

Dr. Bazzaro has a lifelong research interest in cervical and ovarian cancer. She combines her expertise in both the biology of ovarian cancer and pharmaceutical chemistry for the discovery of personalized medicine for women affected by cervical and ovarian cancer for which conventional chemotherapy is not a satisfactory option.

Dr. Bazzaro's has ongoing research collaboration with several institutions and hospitals, nationally and internationally.

This includes:
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN
Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD
University of Alabama in Birmingham, AL
University of Ferrara, Italy
University of Linkoping, Sweden

Research projects:
Microtubule dynamics in the context of cancer and neurodegeneration
Personalized therapies for ovarian cancer resistant to conventional chemotherapy treatment
Combinatorial chemotherapic treatment for ovarian cancer
Targeting of metabolic pathways for ovarian and cancer treatment
Role of Natural Killer (NK) cell in ovarian cancer

Study of the mechanisms underlying breast and ovarian cancer development and progression
Dr. Bazzaro's laboratory is interested in studying abnormalities of protein degradation pathways in breast and ovarian cancer. The Ubiquitin-Proteasome-System (UPS) is responsible for degradation of over 90% of short-lived intracellular proteins. Protein degradation through Ubiquitin-Proteasome-System is a multistep process that begins with de-ubiquitination of ubiquitin-tagged target molecules by de-ubiquitinating enzymes following their entrance in the 20S catalytic chamber of the proteasomes were the actual degradation occurs. The polypeptide targets of the proteasome include proteins involved in cell cycle progression, survival and inflammation and while the ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation is crucial for both normal and malignant cells the higher demand for metabolic/catabolic activity associated with the malignant phenotype renders the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway a suitable tool for cancer treatment. The laboratory is particularly interested in studying the role played by proteasomal- and lysosomal-assisted protein degradation pathways during the development and the progression of breast and ovarian cancer and in the development of new small-molecules inhibitors of ubiquitin-proteasome-system for targeting breast and ovarian cancer cells.

Education

PhD, University of Ferrara
Major: Pharmaceutical Chemistry
BS, University of Ferrara
Major: Pharmacy

Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Fellowship
John Hopkins University, School of Medicine
Guest Researcher, Other
Karolinska Institute
Visiting Fellow - PhD Studetn, Visiting Scholar
University of Lausanne

Honors and Recognition

Ovarian Cancer Research Program, Department of Defense (DOD)
2015
OCRP Ovarian Cancer Academy Scholar, Department of Defense (DOD)
2015
Awardee, Randy Shaver Community Fund
2014
Awardee, Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA)
2014
Postdoctoral Investigator of the Year, Excellence in Basic Science, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
2006
Pathology Young Investigator Day, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
2006
SANOFI-AVENTIS Travel Award, AACR Special Conference, American Association for Cancer Research
2006

Languages

French
Italian
Spanish
Contact

Contact

Address

Dept. of OB/GYN & Women’s Health MMC 395 Mayo 8395C
420 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455