Closeup of Nancy León-Rivera

Nancy León-Rivera, B.A.

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Doctoral Student

SDSU / UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology

San Diego

Phone
Location
BSCI 2102
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA, 92182
Mail Code
4614
Fax
Accounts

Areas of Expertise

Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Diabetes, Peptide Synthesis and Structural Biology

Student Opportunities

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Bio

My research focuses on the complex interactions between breast cancer and its surrounding tumor microenvironment. Specifically, I am investigating the role of autophagy in cancer-associated fibroblasts and how it contributes to tumor desmoplasia, metastasis, and changes in the extracellular matrix.

With a passion for understanding cancer at the cellular and molecular levels, I am committed to unraveling the intricate relationships between autophagy, stromal fibroblasts, and breast cancer metastasis. My goal is to advance our understanding of these mechanisms to develop better therapeutic strategies and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

mentors

Teresa Monkkonen, Ph.D.

Details

Education
  1. Bachelor of Arts in Biology & Chemistry
    Whittier College, Whittier, CA
Publications
  1. Filipowska, J., Cisneros, Z., Leon-Rivera, N., Wang, P., Kang, R., Lu, G., Yuan, Y. C., Bhattacharya, S., Dhawan, S., Garcia-Ocaña, A., Kondegowda, N. G., & Vasavada, R. C.(2024). LGR4 is essential for maintaining β-cell homeostasis through suppression of RANK. bioRxiv: the preprint server for biology, 2024.05.10.593645. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.10.593645
  2. Kondegowda, N. G., Filipowska, J., Do, J. S., Leon-Rivera, N., Li, R., Hampton, R., Ogyaadu, S., Levister, C., Penninger, J. M., Reijonen, H., Levy, C. J., & Vasavada, R. C. (2023). RANKL/RANK is required for cytokine-induced beta cell death; osteoprotegerin, a RANKL inhibitor, reverses rodent type 1 diabetes. Science advances, 9(44), eadf5238. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adf5238
  3. Filipowska J, Kondegowda NG, Leon-Rivera N, Dhawan S, Vasavada RC. LGR4, a G Protein-Coupled Receptor With a Systemic Role: From Development to Metabolic Regulation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 May 30;13:867001. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.867001. PMID: 35707461; PMCID: PMC9190282
  4. Ochoa JM, Mijares O, Acosta AA, Escoto X, Leon-Rivera N, Marshall JD, Sawaya MR, Yeates TO. Structural characterization of hexameric shell proteins from two types of choline- utilization bacterial microcompartments. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun. 2021 Sep 1;77(Pt 9):275-285. doi: 10.1107/S2053230X21007470. Epub 2021 Aug 24. PMID: 34473104; PMCID: PMC8411931
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Service
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Grants
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Clinical Trials
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Awards & Honors
  1. John Greenleaf Whittier Merit Scholarship
  2. Dean’s List Recipient, Whittier College
  3. Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award in Chemistry, Whittier College
  4. National Institutes of Health Post Baccalaureate Research Experience Programs Grant, UCSC
  5. Prebys Biomedical Research Endowed Scholarship, SDSU
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Media
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Fun Facts
  1. What is your favorite thing to do with your free time?
    Watch scary movies, spend time with friends/family, go to the beach and stop for boba on the way.