Rebecca J. Watters, PhD

PCIBMR Enrichment Programs Assistant Director

Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Research Interests

Dr. Watters’ primary research interest is the identification and validation of clinically actionable genes in bone metastases of breast cancer. As a translational researcher, she has developed a tissue bank with bone metastases from breast cancer patients in collaboration with scientists at the Women’s Cancer Research Center and orthopedic surgeons at UPMC Shadyside. She leads NGS studies with these samples to identify differentially expression genes that could be utilized as therapeutic targets.  Current studies in her lab focus on further development and targeting of these clinically actionable genes in patient derived xenografts and a novel organotypic bone model. Her other research interest includes the identification and targeting of structural rearrangements in metastatic osteosarcoma to establish the prevalence and clinical importance of these as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for pulmonary metastases of osteosarcoma patients.

Technique Expertise or Resources to share

RNAseq datasets for 1.) primary osteosarcoma and lung metastases, and 2.) breast cancer bone metastases.

Keywords

Osteosarcoma, bone metastases