Jerrica L Breindel, Ph.D

Jerrica Breindel, PhD is an Associate Professor of Medical Sciences. She graduated with Bachelors of Arts degrees in Biology and Mathematics from Clark University and a Masters of Science and Doctorate of Philosophy in Experimental Pathology from Yale University. She then completed an National Institutes of Health IRACDA postdoctoral fellowship at Tufts University researching mammary gland development and breast cancer progression, while training in student mentoring and pedagogy. Dr. Breindel previously worked in the Department of Biomedical Sciences where she taught Immunology Lab, Research Methods, and Fundamentals of Oncology prior to joining the Department of Medical Sciences where her teaching focus is on Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, and Immunology. At the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine, Dr. Breindel is the Assistant Course Director, Scholary Relfection and Concentration/Capstone (SRCC) Course; a Basic, Translational, and Clinical Science Research Concentration Co-Director; and Foundations of Science II Block Co-Director, Foundations of Medicine I Course.

The Breindel lab researches how changes that occur in the mammary gland during normal developmental stages, such as pregnancy, can influence cancer progression later in life. Students in the lab are trained in cell culture and molecular biology techniques, which allow them to pursue independent projects investigating the regulation of mammary cell identity. Alterations in identity regulation can ultimately lead to formation of different subtypes of breast cancers that have different prognoses and treatment options.