Rebeca San Martin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Cell Biology & Medical Oncology
I joined the Department of Cell Biology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine as an assistant professor in May 2023. I was co-recruited by the Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute at the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECC). My group seeks to understand how genome architecture is influenced by reactive microenvironments, and how this wound-repair-like milieu fosters cancer development, escape from dormancy, and metastasis.
I grew up in Mexico City. I emigrated to the United States with my family, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a Master of Science in Chemistry at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. I then trained at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where I completed my Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, studying the reactive microenvironment that accompanies prostate cancer progression and bone metastasis. Later, during my postdoctoral training at the University of Tennessee, I continued my research on prostate cancer studying how changes in the reactive microenvironment can disrupt the normal three-dimensional packaging of the genome, leading to cancer development.
When searching for a scientific home in which to build my independent career, I was impressed by the collegial nature of the Department of Cell Biology, and with Einstein’s unwavering commitment to serve the diverse population of the Bronx. This institutional vision aligns with my goal of creating an inclusive research team devoted to studying the biological processes that negatively affect cancer progression in underrepresented groups.
“This institutional vision aligns with my goal of creating an inclusive research team devoted to studying the biological processes that negatively affect cancer progression in underrepresented groups.”
As I reflect on my first year, my interactions with departmental leadership, faculty, trainees, and administrative personnel have been overwhelmingly positive. I am particularly thankful for the nurturing, generous, and collaborative environment in the department, which has been crucial for starting my lab.
Website: https://www.einsteinmed.edu/faculty/17607/rebeca-san-martin/
Twitter: @RebecaSanMarti5