Researcher Spotlight – Geoffrey M. Wahl, PhD

Breast cancer is not a single disease, but a group of diseases characterized by different physical and molecular features. Even a single breast tumor is made up of tumor cells with very different molecular features that drive their behaviors, such as how they respond to treatment, whether they can invade tissue, or travel to other parts of the body. This is particularly true in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and is a major factor underlying the aggressive and drug resistant nature of TNBC. Dr. Wahl from the Salk Institute is conducting laboratory studies aimed at identifying the drivers of this intratumoral cellular diversity and strategies to improve outcomes for patients with TNBC.