Cathrin Brisken, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor of Life Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and Professor at the Institute of Cancer Research London. She obtained her MD and her PhD degree in Biophysics from the Georg August University of Göttingen, Germany. She completed her postdoctoral work in cancer biology with Dr. R.A. Weinberg at the Whitehead Institute of Biomedical Research in Cambridge, MA, USA. She previously held appointments at the Cancer Center of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston and the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC). Research in Dr. Brisken's laboratory focuses on the cellular and molecular underpinnings of estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptor signaling during breast caner development. The laboratory has pioneered in vivo approaches to genetically dissect the role of the reproductive hormones and developed ex vivo and humanized mouse models using patient samples to study hormone action in human tissues in normal settings and during disease progression that have been enabling for the field. Dr. Brisken is member of the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) Biological Protocol Working Group, served as Dean of EPFL Doctoral School and member of numerous international committees. She co-founded the International Cancer Prevention Institute.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

 

Office Addresses:                                                                                  Home Address:

ISREC, School of Life Sciences                                                             7 Chemin de la Cure

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL)                                        CH-1066 Epalinges

SV 2832 Station 19                                                                   

CH-1015 Lausanne

Phone +41 (0) 21 693 07 81 / sec: +41 (0)21 693 34 61

Fax +41 (0)21 693 07 40

cathrin.brisken@epfl.ch                                                                               OrcID:  0000-0002-6857-3230 

 

The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre

The Institute of Cancer Research

Fulham Road

London SW3 6JB, UK                                       

Phone +44 (0) 20 7153 5175

cathrin.brisken@icr.ac.uk                                                                                

 

Marital status                  Married; three children: Alessandro (22.01.1999), Elisabeth (23.12.2000),

and Léonie (13.10.2003)

 

Citizenship                       Swiss, German

 

Academic Positions          

 

Since Jan 2020                  Professor, Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Center, Institute for Cancer Research, London, UK (20%)

 

Since 2012                        Associate Professor, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), School of Life Sciences 

 

Sep 2012-Dec 2014            Dean of EPFL Doctoral School (> 2000 doctoral students enrolled)

 

Oct 2005-March 2012        Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, EPFL, School of Life Sciences, Lausanne, Switzerland

 

Apr 2002 - Sep 2005          Associate Scientist, ISREC, Epalinges, Switzerland

 

Jun 2001 - Mar 2002          Assistant Professor, MGH Cancer Center, Harvard, Boston, USA

 

Aug 1999 - May 2001        Research Scientist in the laboratory of Dr. R. A. Weinberg, Whitehead Institute of Biomedical Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

 

Languages                       Native language: German; fluent in: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, conversant Greek, Portuguese, notions: Arabic

 

EDUCATION

Jun 1986                           Abitur (1,0) Carl Friedrich Gauss Schule, Hannover, Germany

Oct 1992                           M. D. Degree, Georg August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany

1988-1993                        Doctorate in Biophysics, Georg August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany: "Development and Production of an Anthropomorphic Phantom for Mammography", (Dr. Harder)

 

Clinical internships

Spring 1987                      Internal Medicine: Neu-Maria-Hilf, Göttingen, Germany

Summer 1987                    Emergency Medicine: Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus

Summer 1988                    Neurosurgery: Piraeus General Hospital, Piraeus, Greece

Summer 1989                    Dermatology, Children´s Sanatorium, Anapa, Russia

Spring 1991                      Medicine: Memorial Hospital, Darlington, England

Fall 1991                          Surgery: Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal

Winter 1991/92                 Immunology: University Hospital San Martino, Genoa, Italy

Spring 1992                      Pediatrics: Stadtkrankenhaus, Wolfsburg, Germany

 

Research internships

1987                                 Institute for Microbiology, (Dr. Schlegel), University of Göttingen, Germany

Spring 1988                      Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, (Dr. Ringelmann), Karlsruhe, Germany

1988                                 Immunochemistry, (Dr. Hilschmann), Max Planck-Institute of 

Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany

Feb-June 1989                   Immunochemistry, (Dr. Nesmeyanov), Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia

 

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

 

Nov 1992 - May 1993        Intern at the ENT Clinic, Halle, Germany

 

May 1993 - Oct 1993         Medical Intern in the Department of Oncology, Georg August-University, 

                                         Göttingen, Germany

 

Nov 1993 - Nov 1995        Postdoctoral Fellow with Dr. R. A. Weinberg, Whitehead Institute of 

                                         Biomedical Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

 

Nov 1995 - July 1999         Postdoctoral Associate in the laboratory of Dr. R. A. Weinberg, Whitehead 

                                         Institute of Biomedical Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

 

Other certificates and further qualifications

 

Nov 1983                          The Certificate of Proficiency in English, University of Michigan, USA

Jan 1987                           Spanish Language Certificate 

                                         Italian Language Certificate 

Feb 1991                           Russian Language Certificate

 

Jan 1990                           Basic Medical Sciences Component of the Foreign Medical Graduate 

                                         Examination in the Medical Sciences (FMGEMS) 

July 1992                          Clinical Sciences Component (FMGEMS) 

Nov 1993                          Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Course: Fission Yeast Genetics

Aug 1995                          Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Course: Advanced Immunohistochemistry and in Situ Hybridization

 

(i)  Research Articles  

Flaherty, R., Hughes, F., Sflomos G.,, Ronchi, C.,Kemp, H.,Roumeliotis, T.Nicholas, AA.,Ambrosini, G.,, Ziehme, A., Becker, S., Zhang,Y.,  Quinn, HM.,  Battista, L.,Padda, H.,Pezot, S., Jouny,Liu, Y., Brough, R.,Marlow, R., Iravani, M.,Okines, A.,Turner, N.C.,Stavrodimou, A., Zaman, K.,Fiche, M., Howard, BA.,Choudhary, JS., Sanz-Moreno, V.,Isacke, CM.,Perryman, L.,Jarolimek, W., Haidar, S., Lord, CJ., Brisken, C.  LOX inhibition disrupts a collagen-intergrin-MYC axis as translatable targeting strategy in invasive lobular carcinoma

Chen, S., MarioParreno-Centeno, M., Booker, G.,Verghese, G.,Mohamed, F.S., Arslan, S.,Pandya, P., Oozeer, A., D’Angelo, M., Barrow, R., Nelan, R., Sobral-Leite, M., de Martino, F., Brisken,  C.,Smalley, MJ., Lips, E., Gillett, C., Jones, LJ :, R.S.Banerji, C., Pinder, SE., Grigoriadis, A.Normal breast tissue classifiers assess large-scale tissue compartments with high accuracy

Ronchi, C., Ambrosini, G., Hughes, F., Flaherty, RL., Quinn, HM, Matvienko, D.,Agnoletto, A., Brisken, C.  biogrowleR: Enhancing Longitudinal Data Analysis

J Mammary Gland Biol and Neoplasia 2025;30(1):9. doi: 10.1007/s10911-025-09583-7.PMID: 40459798

Constantin, C., Matvienko, D., László,C., Scabia, V., Battista, L, Binz, P-A., Bruce, SJ., Brisken, C.  Mimicking women’s endocrine milieu in mice for women’s health related studies

NPJ Women’s Health. 2025;3(1):13. doi: 10.1038/s44294-025-00060-4. Epub 2025 Feb 22. 

Ziegler DV, Parashar K, Leal-Esteban L, López-Alcalá J, Castro W, Zanou N, Martinez-Carreres L, Huber K, Berney XP, Malagón MM, Roger C, Berger MA, Gouriou Y, Paone G, Gallart-Ayala H, Sflomos G, Ronchi C, Ivanisevic J, Brisken C, Rieusset J, Irving M, Fajas L. CDK4 inactivation inhibits apoptosis via mitochondria-ER contact remodeling in triple-negative breast cancer. 

Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 9;16(1):541. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-55605-z. PMID: 39788939

Ronchi, C., Haidar, S., Brisken C. EMBER creates a unified space for independent breast cancer transcriptomic datasets enabling precision oncology

NPJ Breast Cancer2024, Jul 9;10(1):56. doi: 10.1038/s41523-024-00665-z. PMID: 38982086

Geukens T, De Schepper M, Van Den Bogaert W, Van Baelen K, Maetens M, Pabba A, Mahdami A, Leduc S, Isnaldi E, Nguyen HL, Bachir I, Hajipirloo M, Zels G, Van Cauwenberge J, Borremans K, Vandecaveye V, Weynand B, Vermeulen P, Leucci E, Baietti MF, Sflomos G, Battista L, Brisken C, Derksen PWB, Koorman T, Visser D, Scheele CLGJ, Thommen DS, Hatse S, Fendt SM, Vanderheyden E, Van Brussel T, Schepers R, Boeckx B, Lambrechts D, Marano G, Biganzoli E, Smeets A, Nevelsteen I, Punie K, Neven P, Wildiers H, Richard F, Floris G, Desmedt C. Rapid autopsies to enhance metastatic research: the UPTIDER post-mortem tissue donation program. 

NPJ Breast Cancer 2024 10(1):31. doi: 10.1038/s41523-024-00637-3. PMID: 38658604 

Sflomos G., Schaumann N., Christgen M., Christgen H., Bartels S., Kreipe H., Battista L., Brisken C. Optimized Modeling of Metastatic Triple-Negative Invasive Lobular Breast Carcinoma 

Cancers2023 Jun 22;15(13):3299. doi: 10.3390/cancers15133299. PMID: 37444409 

Aouad, P., Zhang, Y., DeMartino,F.,  Stibolt,C., Ali, S., Ambrosini, G., Mani, SA., Maggs, K., Quinn, HM., Sflomos, G., Brisken, C.  Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity determines estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer dormancy and reacquisition of an epithelial state drives recurrence 

Nat Commun. 2022 13(1):4975. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-32523-6. 

Preprint highlighted by preLight

NPJ Breast Cancer 2022, volume 8, Article number: 94 doi.org/10.1038/s41523-022-00465-3

 

Bernier-Latmani, J., Mauri, C., Marcone,R., Renevey, F., He, L., Vanlandewijck, M., Maclachlan, C., Davanture, S., Knott, G.H., Luther, S.A., Betsholtz, C., Delorenzi, M., Brisken, C., Petrova, T.V. Villus tip telocytes control nutrient-absorbing intestinal blood vessel specialization

Nat Commun. 2022 13(1):3983. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-31571-2.

 

Scabia, V., Ayyanan, A., DeMartino, F., Agnoletto, A., Battista, L, Laszlo, C., Treboux, A., Zaman K., Stravodimou, A., Jallut, D., Fiche, M., Bucher, P., Ambrosini, G., Sflomos, G., Brisken, C.  Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers have patient-specific hormone sensitivities and rely on the progesterone receptor for tumor progression

Nat Commun. 2022. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30898-0. 

 

Shamseddin, M. *, DeMartino, F. *, Constantin, C., Lancelot, AS. Laslo, C., Battista, L., Raffoul, W., Gailloud-Matthieu, MC., Bucher, P., Fiche, M., Ambrosini G., Sflomos, G., Brisken, C.  Contraceptive progestins with androgenic properties stimulate breast epithelial cell proliferation.

EMBO Mol Med. 2021. doi: 10.15252/emmm.202114314. 

 

Juppet, Q.*, De Martino, F.*, Weigert, M., Burri, O., Unser, M., Brisken, C.*, Sage, D*. Deep Learning Enables Individual Xenograft Cell Classification in Histological Images by Analysis of Contextual Features.

*equal contribution

J Mammary Gland Biol and Neoplasia 2021; 26(2):101-112. doi: 10.1007/s10911-021-09485-4. PMID: 33999331

Journal Cover and Prize for best student’s article in 2021

 

Sflomos, G., Battista, L., Aouad, P., DeMartino, F., Scabia, V., Ayyanan, A., Ifticene-Treboux, A, Bucher, P., Ambrosini, G., Fiche, M., Brisken, C.  Intraductal Xenografts Model Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast and Reveal Matrix Remodeling by LOXL1 as a Targetable Hallmark  

EMBO Mol Med. 2021. doi: 10.15252/emmm.202013180.

Previewed: Kozma KJ, Done SJ, Egan SE. The tumor cell-derived matrix of lobular breast cancer: a new vulnerability. 

EMBO Mol Med. (2021) doi: 10.15252/emmm.202013807. PMID: 33616312 

Journal Cover 

Koch, C, .Kuske, A., Josse, S.A., Yigit, G.,  Sflomos, G., Thaler, S., Smit, D.J., Werner, S., Borgmann, K.,  Gärtner, S., Mohammadi, P.M.,  Battista, L.,  Cayrefourcq ,L., Altmüller, J., Salinas-Riester, G., Raithatha, K., Zibat, A., Goy, Y., Ott, L., Bartkowiak, K., Tan, Z. T., Speicher, M.R., Müller, V., Jücker, M., Thiery, J.P., Brisken, C.*, Riethdorf, S.*,  Alix-Panabières, C*.,   Pantel, K.  Characterization of circulating breast cancer cells with tumorigenic and metastatic capacity *equal contribution

EMBO Mol Med. (2021)Sep 7;12(9):e11908. doi: 10.15252/emmm.201911908. PMID: 32667137 

Cartaxo, AL., Estrada, M., Domenici, G., Roque, R., Silva, F., Gualda, EJ., Loza-Alvarez, P.,  Sflomos, G., and Brisken, C. , Alves, PM., André, S., Brito, C. A novel culture method that sustains ERα signaling in human breast cancer tissue microstructures 

J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020 Aug 17;39(1):161. doi: 10.1186/s13046-020-01653-4. 

Contribution: Stipulated the project and taught student techniques of breast tissue culture.

Siersbæk, R., Scabia, V., Chernukhin, I., Papachristou, E.,  Broome, R., Green, A.,  Joosten, S., Kumar, S., Alvarez, R., Nagarajan, S., Glont, S., Omarjee S., Aitken, S., Kishore,K., Rakha, E., D’Santos, C., Zwart, W., Russell, A., Brisken, C, Carroll, J. IL6/STAT3 co-opts ER regulatory elements to drive metastasis in breast cancer.

Cancer Cell. 2020 Jul 6:S1535-6108(20)30311-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.06.007.

Contribution: We designed and performed the in vivo experiments.

 

Ataca, D.*, Aouad, P.*, Constantin, C.*, Laszlo, C. F., Beleut, M., Shamseddin M., Rajaram, R. D. , Jeitziner, R., Mead, T.J., Caikovski, M., Bucher, P., Ambrosini G., Apte, S.S., Brisken, C. The secreted protease Adamts18 links mammary epithelial hormone action to extracellular matrix changes and stem cell niche function.  

Nat Commun. 2020 Mar 26;11(1):1571. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15357-y.

Gagniac, L., Rusidze, M., Boudou, F., Cagnet, S., Adlanmerini, Jeannot, P., M., Weyl, F., Boudou, A., Raymond-Letron, I., Besson, A., Arnal, JF, Brisken, C., Lenfant, F. Membrane expression of the estrogen receptor ERα is required for intercellular communications in the mammary epithelium

Development. 2020 Mar 11;147(5).  DOI: 10.1242/dev.182303 

Contribution: postdoc contributed to analysis of the mammary epithelial intrinsic phenotype of the ER mutant mice and taught mammary gland manipulation techniques, advice on the experimental design and co-writing of the manuscript.

 

Laszlo, C. F., De Martino, F., Montoya, J. P., Shamseddin, M., Beguin, A., Nellen, R., Bruce, S., Moniatte, M., Henry, H., and Brisken, C. A high resolution LC-MS targeted method for the concomitant analysis of 11 contraceptive progestins and 4 steroids 

J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2019 Oct 25;175:112756.DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.07.004 

Nacht, AS, Ferrari, R., Zaurin, R., Scabia, V., Carbonell, J., Le Dily, F.,  Quilez, J., Leopoldi, A., Brisken, C, Beato, M., Vincent, GP.  C/EBPα mediates the growth inhibitory effect of progestins on breast cancer cells

EMBO J. 2019 Sep 16;38(18):e101426. doi: 10.15252/embj.2018101426.

Contribution: design of the in vivo experiments: testing of mutant cell lines in the intraductal xenograft model.

Jeitziner, R., Carrière, M.,  Rougemont, J.,  Oudot, S., Hess K., Brisken C.  (2019) Two-Tier Mapper: a user-independent clustering method for global gene expression analysis based on topology 

Bioinformatics2019 Sep 15;35(18):3339-3347. DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btz052

 

Fiche, M., Scabia, V., Aouad, P., Battista, L., Treboux, A., Stravodimou,A., Zaman, K., RLS, Ayyanan, A.,Sflomos, G., and Brisken, C. Intraductal patient derived xenografts of ER+ breast cancer recapitulate the histopathological spectrum and metastatic potential of human lesions

J Pathol. 2019 Mar;247(3):287-292. PMID:30430577.  DOI: 10.1002/path.5200 

 

Cagnet, S.,Ataca, D.,Sflomos, G., Ayyanan, A., Schuepbach-Mallepell, S., Hugues, H.,  Krust, A., Chambon, P., Scabia, V., Brisken, C. Estrogen Receptor α AF-1 and AF-2 domains have cell population-specific functions in the mammary epithelium 

Nat Comm 2018 Nov 9;9(1):4723. PMID: 30413705doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07175-0.

George, AL, Boulanger, CA, Anderson, LH, Cagnet, S., Brisken, C., Smith, GH. (2017) In vivo reprogramming of non-mammary cells to an epithelial cell fate is independent of amphiregulin signaling. 

J Cell Sci, 2017 130(12): 2018-2025. DOI: 10.1242/jcs.200030 

Contribution: breeding of different mouse mutant strains and providing tissues; advice on experimental design

 

Ataca, D., Caikovski M., Piersigilli, A., Moulin, A., Benarafa, C.; Earp, S.E., Guri, Y., Kostic, C., Arsenivic, Y., Soininen, R., Apte, S.S., Brisken, C. (2016) Adamts18 deletion results in distinct developmental defects and provides a model for congenital disorders of lens, lung, and female reproductive tract development.

Biol Open, 2016 Nov 15; 5(11):1585-1594.

 

Sflomos, G., Dormoy, V., T. Metsalu, T., Jeitziner, R., Battista, L., Scabia, V., Raffoul, W., Delaloye, JF., Treboux, A., Vilo, J., Fiche, M., Ayyanan, A., Brisken C. (2016) A robust preclinical model for ERα positive breast cancer points to the mammary epithelial microenvironment as critical determinant of luminal phenotype and hormone response

Cancer Cell, 2016 Mar 14;29(3):407-422. PMID: 26947176  DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2016.02.002 .

Cancer Cell.2016 14;29(3):249-50. PMID: 26977876 

Featured in: Research Watch: Bledsoe, K. Milk Duct Engraftment Allows Preclinical Modeling of ER+ Breast Cancer Milk Duct Engraftment Allows Preclinical Modeling of ER+ Breast Cancer

Cancer Discovery. 2016 PMID: 26988668

Procopio, MG., Laszlo, C., Al Labban, D., Kim, D., Bordignon, P., Jo, SH., Goruppi, S., Menietti, E., Ostano, P., Ala, U., Provero, P., Hoetzenecker, W., Neel, V., Kilarski, W., Swartz, M., Brisken C, Lefort, K., Dotto, G. P. (2015) Combined CSL and p53 downregulation promotes cancer-associated fibroblast activation 

Nature Cell Biol 17(9):1193-204. 

Contribution: providing critical reagents: human primary cells  

 

Rajaram, R., Buric, D., Caikovski M., Ayyanan, A., G., Rougemont, J., Shan, J., Vainio, S., Yalcin-Ozuysal, O, Brisken, C. Progesterone and Wnt4 control mammary stem cells via myoepithelial crosstalk  (2015)

EMBO J.; 34(5):641-52 PMID: 25603931                                                                                                 

       

Hickman JA , Graeser R , de Hoogt R , Vidic S ,  Brito C ., Gutekunst M , van der Kuip H , IMI PREDECT Consortium. (2014) Three-dimensional models of cancer for pharmacology and cancer cell biology: capturing tumor complexity in vitro/ex vivo. 

Biotechnology Journal, 2014, 9(9):1115-1128 PMID:25174503

 

Pick, H., Terrettaz, S., Bauda, O., Laribi, O, Brisken C, Vogel, H. (2013) Monitoring proliferative activities of hormone-like odorants in human breast cancer cells by gene transcription profiling and electrical impedance spectroscopy

Biosens Bioelectron.2013 Dec 15;50:431-6

Contribution: providing reagents and devising RT-PCR assays

 

Tanos, T.,Sflomos, G., Echeverria, P. C., Ayyanan, A., Gutierrez, M., Delaloye, J.-F., Raffoul, W., Fiche, M., Dougall, W.,  Schneider, P., Yalcin-Ozuysal,O.,  Brisken C (2013) Progesterone/ RANKL is a major regulatory axis in the human breast

Sci Transl Med. 2013 Apr 24;5(182) PMID: 23616122.  DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3005654 .

Cimino, D., C. De Pittà, F. Orso, S. Casara, M. Zampini, C. Romualdi, E. Penna, E. Quaglino, M. Forni,  C. Damasco, E. Pinatel, P. Provero, R. Ponzone, C. Brisken, M. De Bortoli, N. Biglia, G. Lanfranchi and D. Taverna.(2013) miR148b is a major coordinator of breast cancer progression in a relapse-associated microRNA signature by targeting ITGA5, ROCK1, PIK3CA, NRAS and CSF1

FASEB J; 27(3):1233-35

Contribution: providing human tissue samples and co-writing

Dong J, Huang S, Caikovski M, Ji S, McGrath A, Custorio MG, Creighton CJ, Maliakkal P, Bogoslovskaia E, Du Z, Zhang X, Lewis MT, Sablitzky F, Brisken C, Li Y. (2011). ID4 regulates mammary gland development by suppressing p38MAPK activity.

Development 138(23): 5247-56.

Contribution: analysis of the mammary epithelial intrinsic phenotype of ID4 mutant mice.

Ayyanan, A., Laribi, O., Schuepbach-Mallepell, S., Schrick, C., Gutierrez, M., Tanos, T., Lefebvre, G., Rougemont, J., Yalcin-Ozuysal, O,. Brisken, C. (2011) Perinatal exposure to bisphenol A increases adult mammary gland progesterone response and cell number

Mol. Endocrinol. 25(11): 1915-23.                                                                                                             

Hu, B. Lefort, K., Qiu, W., Nguyen, B. C., Rajaram, R., Castillo, E., He, F., Chen, Y., Angel, P., Brisken, C., Dotto, G. P. (2010). Control of hair follicle cell fate by underlying mesenchyme through a CSL -Wnt5a-FoxN1 regulatory axis.

Genes and Development, 15(24): 1519-32

Contribution: graduate student R. R. made the initial observation that deleting Notch function in the dermis causes a skin phenotype, providing reagents, and advising throughout project and publication.

 

Battula, V. L., Evans, K., Hollier, B. G., Shi, Y., Marini, F.C., Ayyanan, A., Brisken, C., Michael Andreeff, M., Mani, S. A. (2010). Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Generates Functional Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells

Stem Cells 2010 Aug;28(8):1435-45

Contribution: experiments with primary human breast epithelial cells to establish the physiological relevance of the findings in cell lines.

Yang, C., Chen, L., Li, C., Lynch, M. C., Brisken, C., Schmidt, E. V. (2010). Cyclin D1 enhances the response to estrogen and progesterone by regulating progesterone receptor expression.

Contribution: suggesting of experiments and providing tissue samples and lysates, co-writing of the manuscript.

Yalçın-Özuysal, O., Fiche, M., Guitierrez, M., Wagner, K. U., Raffoul, W.,  Brisken, C. (2010). Antagonistic roles of Notch and p63 in controlling mammary epithelial cell fates.

Cell Death Diff  17(10): 1600-10                                                                                                              

Beleut, M., Rajaram, R., Caikovski, M., Ayyanan, A., Germano, D., Choi, Y., Schneider, P., Brisken, C. (2010). Two distinct mechanisms underlie progesterone-induced proliferation in the mammary gland.

PNAS, 107(7): 2989-94 PMID: 20133621                                                                                                 

 

Booth BW, Boulanger CA, Anderson LH, Jimenez-Rojo L, Brisken C, Smith GH. (2010) Amphiregulin mediates self-renewal in an immortal mammary epithelial cell line with stem cell characteristics. 

Exp Cell Res. 2010 Feb 1;316(3):422-32

 

Cicalese, A*.; Bonizzi, G*.; Pasi C. E.; Faretta, M.; Ronzoni, S.; Giulini, B.; Brisken, C.; Minucci, S.; Di Fiore, P. P.; Pelicci, P. G. (2009). The tumor suppressor p53 regulates polarity of self-renewing divisions in mammary stem cells. 

Cell 18; 138(6): 1083-95 

Contribution: designing and performing experiments, providing reagents and advice on project and publication.

 

Barbaroux, J.B., Beleut, M., Brisken, C., Mueller, C., Groves, R.W. (2008) Epidermal Receptor Activator of NF-kB Ligand Controls Langerhans cell numbers and proliferation. 

J Immunol. 181(2): 1103-8

Contribution: performing experiments with RANKL deficient mice and providing tissue samples.  

 

Mani, S. A., Guo, W., Liao, M.J., Ng. Eaton, E., Ayyanan, A., Zhou, A., Brooks, M., Reinhard, F., Zhang, C.C., Shipitsin, M., Campbell, L. l., Polyak, K.,  Brisken, C., Yang, J., Weinberg, R. A. (2008). The epithelial-mesenchymal transition generates cells with properties of stem cells. 

Cell 133(4): 704-15 

Contribution: performing experiments in primary human breast epithelial cells to establish the physiological relevance of the findings in cell lines. This was critical for acceptance.                                                                                                                             

 

Boulay, A., Breuleux, M., Stephan, C.,  Fux, C., Brisken, C., Fiche, M., Wartmann, M., Stumm, M., Lane, H. A., Hynes, N.E. (2008). The Ret Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Pathway Functionally Interacts with the ERα Pathway in Breast Cancer. 

Cancer Res. 68(10): 3743-51$

 

Duss, S., André S., Nicoulaz, A. L., Fiche, M., Bonnefoi, H., Brisken, C., Iggo, R.  (2007).  An estrogen-dependent model of breast cancer created by transformation of normal human mammary epithelial cells. 

Breast Cancer Res.  9(3): R38

Contribution: co-supervision of student and project.

 

Ciarloni, L., Mallepell, S., Brisken, C. (2007). Amphiregulin is an essential mediator of estrogen receptor alpha function in mammary gland development.

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 104(13): 5455-60. PMID: 17369357 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0611647104               

Reviewed in: Lamarca HL, Rosen JM. Estrogen regulation of mammary gland development and breast cancer: amphiregulin takes center stage.

Breast Cancer Res. 2007 Jul 20;9(4):304 PMID: 17659070

 

Ayyanan, A., Civenni, G., Ciarloni, L., Morel, C., Lefort, K., Mandinova, A., Raffoul, W., Fiche, M., Dotto, G. P., Brisken, C. (2006). Increased Wnt signaling triggers oncogenic conversion of human mammary epithelial cells by a Notch-dependent mechanism mammary gland development. 

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 103 (10): 3799-3804.                                                                                      

Reviewed in: Brennan K. Cooperation between Wnt and Notch signaling in human breast cancer.

 

Mallepell, S., Krust, A., Chambon, P., Brisken, C. (2006).  Paracrine signaling through the epithelial Estrogen Receptor a is required for proliferation and morphogenesis in the mammary gland. 

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 103 (7): 2196-2201. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0510974103                                         

 

Farmer, P., Bonnefoi, H., Becette, V., Tubiana-Hulin, M., Fumoleau, P., Larsimont, D., MacGrogan, G., Bergh, J., Cameron, D., Goldstein, D., Duss, S., Nicoulaz, A.-L., Fiche, M., Brisken, C., Iggo, R. (2005).  Identification of molecular apocrine breast tumors by microarray analysis.  

Oncogene  24: 4660-4671. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1208561.                                                                           

 

Devgan, V., Mammucari, C., Millar, S. E., Brisken, C., and Dotto, G. P. (2005). p21WAF1/Cip1 is a negative transcriptional regulator of Wnt4 expression downstream of Notch1 activation.  

Genes and Development 19:1485-95.

 

Chu, E. Y., Hens, J., Andl, T., Kairo, A., Yamaguchi, T. P., Brisken, C., Glick, A., Wysolmerski, J. J., and Millar, S. E. (2004).  Canonical WNT signaling promotes mammary placode development and is essential for initiation of mammary gland morphogenesis. 

Development 131: 4819-4829.

 

Brisken, C.,* Ayyannan, A., Nguyen, C., Heineman, A., Reinhardt, F., Tan, J., Dey, S. K., Dotto, G. P., Weinberg, R. A. (2002).  IGF-2 is a mediator of prolactin-induced proliferation/morphogenesis in the breast. 

Dev Cell 3: 877-887.  (*corresponding author) PMID: 12479812                                                                

 

Brisken, C., Socolovsky, M., Lodish, H. F., Weinberg, R. A. (2002). The signaling domain of the 

erythropoietin receptor rescues prolactin receptor-mutant mammary epithelium.

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99 (22): 14241-5. 

 

Brisken, C., Heinemann, A., Chavarria T., Ellenbaas, B., Tan, J., Dey, S. K., McMahon, J. A., McMahon, A. P., Weinberg, R. A. (2000).  Essential function of Wnt-4 in mammary gland development downstream of progesterone signaling.

Genes and Development 14: 650-654. PMID: 10733525  

 

Reviewed in: Robinson GW, Hennighausen, L., Johnson P.F. K. (2000). Side-branching in the mammary gland: the progesterone-Wnt connection. 

Genes and Development 14 (8): 889-894. PMID: 10783160

 

Brisken, C., Kaur, S., Chavarria, T., Binart, N., Sutherland, R.L., Weinberg, R. A, Kelly, P. A., 

Ormandy, C. J. (1999).  Prolactin controls mammary gland development via direct and indirect mechanisms.

Dev Biol. 210: 96-106.

                                                                                                                                                               

Brisken, C., Park, S., Vass, T., Lydon, J. P., O’Malley, B. W., Weinberg, R. A. (1998).  A paracrine role for the epithelial progesterone receptor in mammary gland development.

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95: 5076-5081. PMID: 9560231

                                                                                                                                                               

Van Baelen K, Sawyer E, Van Cauwenberge J, Aftimos P, Covington MF, Maetens M, Zels G, Brisken C, Djerroudi L, Dresen R, Fitzpatrick A, Flaherty RL, Floris G, Freeney S, Hanker AB, Honey D, Isacke CM, Jankowitz RC, Jeselsohn R, Koorman T, Kuhl C, Linn S, Lord CJ, Malhaire C, Mouabbi J, Mukhtar R, Nader-Marta G, Natrajan R, Neven P, Oesterreich S, Sandoval JL, Schnitt SJ, Senkus E, Turner C, Vandecaveye V, Wildiers H, Vincent-Salomon A, Derksen PWB, Desmedt C. Clinical challenges and proposed solutions for patients with invasive lobular breast cancer.

Ann Oncol. 2025 Jul 21:S0923-7534(25)00857-9. PMID: 40701440DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2025.07.008

Dey P, Brisken C. Breaking the Rhythm: Harnessing the Menstrual Cycle for Better Chemotherapy. 

Cancer Res. 2025 Jan 29. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-25-0335.PMID: 39879115 

Agnoletto A, Brisken C.Hormone Signaling in Breast Development and Cancer. 

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2025;1464:279-307. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-70875-6_15. PMID: 39821031

Flaherty, R., Sflomos, G., Brisken C. Is there a special role for ovarian hormones in the pathogenesis of lobular breast cancer? 

Endocrinology (2024) DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqae031 

 

Aouad P, Quinn HM, Berger A, Brisken C. Tumor dormancy : EMT beyond invasion and metastasis. Genesis (2024) PMID: 37776086  DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23552 

Clin Cancer Res (2022) -22-3374PMID: 36547665DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-3374  

Sflomos, G., Schipper, K., Koorman T., Fitzpatrick A., Oesterreich, S., Lee, A.V., Jonkers, J., Brunton, V. G., Christgen, M., Isacke, C., Derksen, P.W. B., Brisken C, Action Atlas of Lobular Breast Cancer Models: Challenges and Strategic Directions

Cancers (2021)13(21):5396 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215396

Brisken C, Scabia V. Celebrating 90 years of Progesterone: Progesterone receptor signaling in the normal breast and its implications for cancer

J Mol Endocrinol. 2020 DOI: 10.1530/JME-20-0091.

Özdemir BC, Sflomos G, Brisken, C., (2018) The challenges of modelling hormone-receptor positive breast cancer in mice

Endocrine-related Cancer 2018  35(4):547-573

 

Dobrolecki LE, Airhart SD, Alferez DG, Aparicio S, Behbod F, Bentires-Alj M, Brisken C, Bult CJ, Cai S, Clarke RB, Dowst H, Ellis MJ, Gonzalez-Suarez E, Iggo RD, Kabos P, Li S, Lindeman GJ, Marangoni E, McCoy A, Meric-Bernstam F, Piwnica-Worms H, Poupon MF, Reis-Filho J, Sartorius CA, Scabia V, Sflomos G, Tu Y, Vaillant F, Visvader JE, Welm A, Wicha MS, Lewis MT. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models in basic and translational breast cancer research. 

Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2016 Dec; 35(4):547-573

Brisken C, Hess, K, Jeitziner, R (2015) Progesterone and overlooked endocrine pathways in breast cancer pathogenesis 

Endocrinology,156(10):3442-50.                                                                                                             

Brisken C, Ataca, D, (2015) Endocrine Hormones and local signals during the development of the mouse mammary gland

Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol.4(3):181-95.                                                                                             

 

Sflomos, G.,Shamsheddin, M., Brisken C. (2015) An ex vivo Model to study Hormone Action in the Human Breast

J Vis Exp. (95): e52436 doi: 10.3791/52436

Hickman JA, Graeser R, de Hoogt R, Vidic S, Brito C, Gutekunst M, van der Kuip H; IMI PREDECT Consortium.(2014) Three-dimensional models of cancer for pharmacology and cancer cell biology; capturing tumor complexity in vitro/ex vivo 

Biotechnol J. (9):1115-28.

Brisken C., Sflomos, G.,Tanos, T.(2013) Reply to Is progesterone a neutral or protective facto for breast cancer?

Nat Rev Cancer.14(6):146.

Sflomos, G., Brisken C. (2013) A new Achilles Heel in breast cancer?

Oncotarget, (8):1126-7.

Brisken C. (2013) Progesterone signaling in breast cancer: a neglected hormone coming into the limelight.

Nat Rev Cancer.13(6):385-96. DOI: 10.1038/nrc3518                                                                                

 

Soto AM, Brisken C, Schaeberle C, Sonnenschein C. (2013) Does Cancer Start in the Womb? Altered Mammary Gland Development and Predisposition to Breast Cancer due to in Utero Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors.

J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia.18(2):199-208.  DOI: 10.1007/s10911-013-9293-5 

Tanos, T., Rojo, L., Echeverria P., Brisken, C. (2012) ER and PR signaling nodes during mammary gland development 

Breast Cancer Research,14:210.  DOI: 10.1186/bcr3166 

Rajaram, R. , Brisken, C., (2011). Paracrine signaling by progesterone.

Mol Cell Endocrinol., 357(1-2):80-90                                                                                                       

Tanos, T.,Brisken, C.,  (2011). High hopes for RANKL. Will the mouse model live up to its promise?

Breast Cancer Res., 11(6): 306.                                                                                                                 

 

Dietrich C, Weiss C, Bockamp E, Brisken C, Roskams T, Morris R, Oesch-Bartlomowicz B, Oesch F. (2010). Stem cells in chemical carcinogenesis 

Arch Toxicol. Mar;84(3):245-51.

 

Yalçın-Özuysal, O.,Brisken, C.,  (2009). From normal cell types to malignant phenotypes.

Breast Cancer Research, 11(6): 306.

 

Tanos, T., Brisken, C.  (2008).  What signals operate in the mammary niche?

Breast Disease 29: 69-82.                                                                                                                 

 

Brisken, C.  (2008). Endocrine Disruptors and Breast Cancer. 

Chimia. 2008. Vol. 62, p. 406-409. DOI : 10.2533/chimia.2008.406.        

 

Brisken, C., Duss, S.  (2007).  Hormones and the stem cell niche in the breast: a developmental perspective.

Stem Cell Reviews. 3 (2): 147-156                                                                                                             

 

Brisken, C., Rajaram, R.  (2006). Alveolar and Lactogenic Differentiation.

Journal of Mammary Gland Biol and Neoplasia. 11: 239-248.

                                                                                                                                                               

Gass, S., Harris, J., Ormandy, C., Brisken, C.  (2003).  Using gene expression arrays to elucidate transcriptional 

profiles underlying prolactin function.  

Journal of Mammary Gland Biol and Neoplasia, 8: 269-285.

                                                                                                                                                                

Brisken, C. (2003). Breast Cancer: Learning from the mouse mammary gland. 

Bull Suisse Cancer, 1: 28-31.

 

Brisken, C., Ayyannan, A., Doppler, W.  (2002). Prolactin signaling and Stat5: going their own separate ways? 

Breast Cancer Research, 4: 209-212 

 

Brisken, C. (2002). Hormonal control of alveolar development and its implications for breast carcinogenesis. 

J Mammary Gland Biol and Neoplasia, 7 (1): 39-48.

 

                                                                                                                                                                    

Quinn HM, Battista, L., Scabia V. Brisken C. (2024)

Chapter: Preclinical Mouse Intraductal Model (MIND) to Study Metastatic Dormancy in Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

In: Methods Molecular Biology, Vol. 2811, Marco Montagner (Eds): Cancer Cell Dormancy, Springer

Sflomos G., Brisken, C. (2017)

Chapter: Breast Cancer Microenvironment and the Metastatic Process

In: Breast Cancer Innovations in Research and Treatment, Veronesi, U., Goldhirsch, A., Veronesi, P., Gentilini, O.D., Leonardi, M.C.

Buric D, Brisken C. (2017) Analysis of Mammary Gland Phenotypes by Transplantation of the Genetically Marked Mammary Epithelium. 

Methods Mol Biol.;1501:115-129.

Brisken, C., O’Malley, B. (2010)

Cold Spring Harbor: Perspectives in Biology: Mammary Gland Biology. 

Chapter: Signaling-Hormone Action

 

F. Marchetti*, F. De Martino*, M. Shamseddin, S. De Marchi and C. Brisken, "Variably Scaled Kernels

Improve Classification of Hormonally-Treated Patient-Derived Xenografts," 2020 IEEE Conference on

Evolving and Adaptive Intelligent Systems (EAIS), Bari, Italy, 2020, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/

EAIS48028.2020.9122767.

M.L. Villiger, M. Beleut, C. Brisken, T. Lasser and R.A. Leitgeb, Extended focus Fourier domain optical coherence microscopy assists developmental biology, Proceedings of SPIE: Advances in OCT System Technology II, 2007, 6627, 66271H.

 

 

Oct       2025     Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Think Tank, New York, USA

Feb      2025     CRUK Convergence Science Center Annual Symposium 2025

Jan        2025     Breast Cancer Symposium “Think Tank 34”, USA

Dec      2024     The tumor microenvironment in breast cancer and precision medicine, Frankfurt, Germany

Nov      2024     International ITU Molecular Biology and Genetics Student Congress 2024, Istanbul, Turkey

invited by PhD students declined

Nov      2024     Deconstructing the Evolution of Metastasis, Brussels, Belgium, EvoDevo EU ITN network, 

invited by PhD students 

Oct       2024     6th International Breast Cancer Course, from Clinics to Biology, Institut Curie, Paris, France 

Sep      2024     Building consensus for a new approach to breast cancer prevention in women with a BRCA1 

mutation: consensus workshop, Eutops, Insbrueck, Austria 

Jul        2024     Cancer models: from cages to clinic, 25th Beatson International Cancer Conference, 

Glasgow, Scotland

Mar      2024     14th European Breast Cancer Conference, Milan, Italy

Mar      2024     Nantes-Angers Cancer and Immunology Research Center (CRCI2NA) symposium, declined

Feb      2024     EACR-AACR-IACR Conference "How to bring basic science discoveries to the Clinic", 

Dublin, Ireland

Jan        2024     Breast Cancer Symposium “Think Tank 33”, St. Croix, USVI, USA

Nov      2023     2nd EACR Conference "Cellular Bases for Patient Responses", Berlin, Germany, declined

Oct      2023     AACR, Special Conference in Cancer Research: Advances in Breast Cancer Research, San Diego, USA

Sept     2023     Keynote speaker Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Symposium, Pittburgh, USA

June     2023     11ème Rencontre Franco-Suisse de sénologie (in French), Montreux, CH

May     2023     Symposium of the TRR 305 “Striking a moving target: From mechanisms of metastatic

                         organ colonisation to novel systemic therapies”, Kloster Seeon, Germany

May     2023     32nd International Association for Breast Cancer Research Conference, Rivera Maya, 

Mexico, declined.

Feb      2023     11th International Symposium on the Human Breast, Los Angeles, USA , by Zoom

Dec      2022     1stEACR Conference " The Invisible Phase of Metastasis: Impact of dormancy, 

cancer cell plasticity and evolution of the niche during metastatic progression, online

Nov      2022     1st EACR Conference "Cellular Bases for Patient Responses", Berlin, Germany

Oct       2022     "Dublin Steroid Cancer Conference”, Dublin, Ireland, declined

Sept     2022     EMBO conference "Nuclear Receptors and Biological Systems”, Valetta, Malta

Sept     2022     Sex steroids in health and disease, Dublin, Ireland 

June     2022     Gordon Research Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”, Il Ciocco, Italy

May     2022     Stem Cells, Development and Cancer Meeting in Lyon, France

April    2022     AACR, New Orleans, declined

Oct       2021     4th international conference on stem cells, development and cancer, Lyon, France,

Aug     2021     Session Chair, Gordon Research Conference, “Hormones and Cancer”, USA, 

June     2021     EACR conference meeting on “Innovative Cancer Science: Better Outcomes 

Through Research”, Torino, Italy, online

Aug     2021    Session Chair, Gordon Research Conference, “Hormones and Cancer”, USA, cancelled

June     2021     EACR conference meeting on “Innovative Cancer Science: Better Outcomes Through

                        Research”, Torino, Italy Zoom

May     2021     Joint Meeting of the French and German Societies for Matrix Biology Zoom 2021

Oct       2020     ISMRC on Metastasis and Liquid Biopsy, Shanghai, China

Oct       2020     4th international conference on stem cells, development and cancer, Lyon, France

Oct       2020     AACR Special Conference Advances in Breast Cancer Research, San Diego, USA

Sept     2020     EMBO conference "Nuclear Receptors and Biological Systems”, Valetta, Malta 

June     2020     EACR conference meeting on “Innovative Cancer Science: Better Outcomes Through

Research”, Torino, Italy 

May     2020     Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Symposium, Pittsburg, USA

April    2020     AACR Meeting, San Diego, USA, declined

March  2020     EMBO Course, Mammary Gland Biology, Keynote lecture, Heidelberg, Germany

March  2020     Endocrinology,  San Francisco, USA, declined

March  2020     German-Israeli Helmholtz Research School “Frontiers in Cell Signaling and Gene 

Regulation” Winter school, Eilat, Israel, declined

March  2020     Genomic Regulation 2020: Focus on Cancer, Haute-Nendaz, Switzerland

March  2020     European Network of Breast Development and Cancer Labs, Weggis, Switzerland

March   2020    Buenos Aires Breast Cancer Symposium 2020, BA-BCS2020, declined

Jan       2020     2nd UK Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Symposium, Birmingham, UK

Jan        2020     Breast Cancer Symposium “Think Tank 30”, Florida, USA, declined

Jan       2020     IISc Bangalore Cancer Conference 2020, talk by videoconference

Nov      2019     Keynote Speaker, EACR Conference on "Goodbye Flat Biology", Berlin, Germany

Aug     2019     Keynote lecture, Gordon Research Conference, “Hormones and Cancer”, USA

June     2019     Gordon Research Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”, Newry, ME, USA

May      2019     International Molecular Medicine Symposium by the Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey,

                        invited by MD PhD students

April    2019     International Association Breast Cancer Research 2019 Conference, Egmond aan

Zee, Netherlands

Feb      2019     4th International Collaborative Research Centre Symposium, Freiburg, Germany

Jan        2019     Breast Cancer Symposium “Think Tank 29”, Andaz Mayakaba, Mexico

Oct      2018     Biennial Dublin Steroid Cancer Meeting, The Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland

Oct      2018    "Frontiers in Cancer Research", German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg.

Sept     2018     EMBO conference "Nuclear Receptors and Biological Systems”, Kolymbari, Crete, 

                        Greece

June      2018    Pezcoller Symposium, Trieste, Italy

June      2018     Main Speaker, NCI-Progesterone & Breast Cancer Workshop, Rockville MD, USA May    May   2018     Cancer Research UK Marshall Symposium, Bailiffscourt, Sussex, UK

March  2018     European Breast Cancer Conference, Barcelona, Spain

Dec      2017     Symposium Rabelais, Montpellier, France

Nov      2017     British Association for Cancer Research "Precision medicine and cancer models: 

                        developing strategies to enhance clinical response” Royal Society of Medicine, 

London, UK

Nov      2017     UK NCRI meeting in Liverpool

Aug     2017     Gordon Research Conference, “Hormones and Cancer”, USA

June     2017     Gordon Research Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”, USA

May     2017     Journée Roger Monier, Institut Curie-Gustave Roussy, Paris, France

May     2017     Nuclear Receptors in Cancer Meeting, Collège de France, Paris, France

April    2017     AACR, Washington, USA declined because of scheduling conflict

Nov     2016     Swedish Cancer Meeting, Goetheburg, Sweden

Sept    2016     Translating molecular insights into clinical practice in breast and prostate cancer, Clare College, Cambridge UK

Aug     2016     2016 Meeting of the International Association for Breast Cancer Research (IABRC), Portland Oregon, USA

June     2016     Gordon Research Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”, Il Ciocco, Italy

Nov     2015     Molecular Biology, Ankara, Turkey

Oct      2015     40th European Symposium on Hormones and Cell Regulation, Strasbourg, France

Feb      2015     Gordon Research Conference: Salivary Gland Biology, Galveston, USA

Dec      2014     The Third South American Spring Symposium in Signal Transduction and 

                        Molecular Medicine (SISTAM 2014), Bariloche, Argentina

Nov     2014     Société Française d'Endocrinologie (SFE), Lyon 2014.

Oct      2014     PPTOX4 in Boston, MA, USA

June     2014     26th Pezcoller Symposium, Trento, Italy

June     2014     Gordon Research Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”, Il Ciocco, Italy

March  2014     18th Annual Laura Evans Memorial Breast Cancer Symposium, Idaho, USA

June     2013     International Congress on Notch Targeting in Cancer, Mykonos, Greece

Mar      2013     Joint Meeting of the British Societies of Developmental Biology and Cell Biology, 

                        Warwick, UK

Mar      2013     Daniel Medina Symposium, Galveston, USA

Dec      2012     Plenary Lecture, San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, USA (7000 participants)

Nov     2012     9th Amazon Project Conference on Cancer, Palermo, Italy

June     2012     Keynote lecture Gordon Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”, Il Cioccho, Italy

Feb      2012     Session Chair and Speaker at the Endocrine Disruptor Conference, Munich, Germany  

Nov     2011     Cell Polarity in Health and Disease Workshop 2011, Oxford, UK

Oct      2011     German speaking Oncology Society, Basel, Switzerland

June     2011     Gordon Conference: Mammary Gland Biology, Newport, USA

May     2011     European Network of Breast Development and Cancer (ENBDC) meeting, Weggis, Switzerland

April    2011     Session Chair and Speaker: New Concepts in Organ-Site Research ”Stem cells in breast development and breast cancer” Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, Orlando, Florida, USA

March  2011     Session Chair and Plenary Speaker, Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Breast Cancer, St. Gallen, Switzerland (5000 participants)

Feb      2011     Susan Love Research Foundation Biannual Symposium, Santa Monica, USA

Sep      2010     14th International Congress of Hormonal Steroids and Hormones & Cancer, Edinburgh, Scotland

May     2009     Hinterzartener Kreis for Cancer Research, Como, Italy

March 2009     Session chair, Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Breast Cancer, St. Gallen, Switzerland (5000 participants)

Apr      2009     Estrogens, SERMs and TSECs Meeting, Sanibel, Florida, USA

Aug     2008     Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer, EPFL/ISREC Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland

Dec      2007     International PhD Symposium, Turku, Finland

Mar      2007     Biocenter Day, Oulu, Finland

Mar      2007     USGEB meeting, Basel, Switzerland

Nov     2006     Cancer Colloquia, St. Andrews, Scotland

May     2006     Gordon Conference: Mammary Gland Biology, Il Ciocco, Italy

Sept     2005     TAP Selective progesterone receptor modulators symposium, Chicago, USA

June     2005     Harlan Teklad Symposium, Basel

June     2005     COST meeting, Frankfurt, Germany

May     2005     EMBL-Monterotondo International PhD Symposium, Rome, Italy 

June     2004     Gordon Conference: Reproductive Biology, Rhode Island, USA

June     2003     Gordon Conference: Mammary Gland Biology, Rhode Island, USA

Jan       2003     Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer, ISREC Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland

Nov     2002     Swiss Society of Oncology Meeting, Lausanne, Switzerland

June     1999     Gordon Conference: Mammary Gland Biology, workshop: tissue grafting, New Hampshire, USA

Sep      1998     Cold Spring Harbor Meeting: “Mouse Genetics”, USA

Oct      2025     Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

May     2025     Keynote Lecture at Tech4Eva Conference, Lausanne, CH

April    2025     Spring Meeting of the Swiss Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Bern, CH

Feb      2025     Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University (zoom)

June     2024     Keynote Lecture at Official launch of the Women’s Cancers Institute of the French State, Institut Curie, Université de Paris, Paris, FR

March  2024     ETHZ, Institute for Biochemistry, Zurich, CH 

March  2023     Manchester Breast Center, Tony Howell Festschrift, Manchester, UK 

March  2021     Nottingham, UK (Zoom)

January 2021     ENBDC, Basel, Switzerland (Zoom)

May     2020     Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK

May     2020     Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Zoom)

May      2020    Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK

Mar      2019     Manchester Cancer Research Center, Manchester, UK

Feb      2019     Institute for Cancer Research, London, UK

Nov     2018     iBET, Oeiras/Lisbon, Portugal

Nov     2018     IEO-IFOM, Milano, Italy

Mai      2017     Cancer Research Center, Lyon, France

Nov     2016     Institut Gustave-Roussy, Paris, France

Mai      2016     Institut Curie, Paris, France

March  2016     Novartis Oncology, Cambridge MA, USA

March  2016     Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA

Jan       2016     University of Helsinki, Finland

Oct      2015     6th symposium genevois sur le cancer du sein sous les auspices du SONGE

Mar      2015     CRG Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain

Feb      2015     Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA

Nov     2014     German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany

Nov     2014     31ème Congrès de la Société Française d'Endocrinologie, Lyon, France

Oct      2014     Swiss Academy of Multidisciplinary Oncology, Luzern, Switzerland

June     2014     Women’s Health Conference, Geneva, Switzerland

March  2014     Institute for Cancer Research, London, UK

Feb      2014     Institut Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France

 

2025            Breast Cancer Research Foundation Award “Tackling breast cancer in young women”

2023            Claudia von Schilling Prize 2023 (10 000 EU) for best 2022 publication: Estrogen receptor positive breast cancers have patient-specific hormone sensitivities and rely on progesterone receptor by Scabia et al 2020: “The awardee has revealed opportunities for developing new preventative and therapeutic strategies in ER+ breast cancer”

2022            Reviewer for AICR “5 per mille” collaborative and transdisciplinary flagship program 

                   “Metastatic disease: from bench to bedside”

2021            Nominator for Sjöberg Prize 2022  Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

2020            Mildred-Scheel-Stiftung Fellowship to Dr. Hazel Quinn, postdoctoral fellow

2019            Member of the Selection Committee for the 2020 Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award, the most important award given by the AACR

2019            ESMO 2019, Scientific Committee Member, Translational Research

2019-2023   ISREC fellowship to Andrea Agnoletto, top ranking candidate

2018-2022   Pezcoller Symposia Scientific Standing Committee

2017-2020   Member of the AACR Women in Cancer Research Committee

2016            EMBO fellowship to visiting student Marta Estrada from IBET, Lisbon, Portugal

2012            San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, USA, Mentor at Career Development 
 Forum for Young Investigators

2011-2015   5-member organizing committee of the annual think-tank on cancer “Hinterzartener Gesprächskreis” run by the German Science Foundation (DFG), Cadenabbia, Italy

2012            Session Chair at “Colloque bilan et perspectives SEST”, Agence Nationale de la recherche, Paris, France

2010            External Expert Ludwig Boltzmann Oncology Cluster of Oncology, Vienna, Austria

2010            Marie-Heim-Vögtlein Fellowship to Dr. Renuga Devi Rajaram, postdoctoral fellow

2009            Basque Government Fellowship to Dr. Lucia Jimenez Rojo, postdoctoral fellow

2008            Marie-Curie-Fellowship to Dr. Tamara Tanos, postdoctoral fellow 

2008            Marie-Heim-Vögtlein Fellowship to Dr. Ouahiba Laribi, postdoctoral fellow

2008            Chair: Gordon Research Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”, Il Cioccho, Italy

2007            Vice-chair: Gordon Research Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”

2007            Santa Cruz Investigator Award to A. Ayyannan, lab member

2007            One of 5 finalists of 2007 Josef Steiner Cancer Research Award

1998            Member of Sigma Xi

1993-1995   Fellowship of Dr. Mildred Scheel-Foundation

 

 

 

Roberta DeCarli  San Raffaele University, Milan (2022/2023): “Role of AR in ER+ breast carcinogenesis”

Rebecca Cecchin University of Padova (2022): “Role of BET inhibitors in ER+ breast cancer dormancy” 

Matteo Levorato University of Padova (2021): “Role of EMT in ER+ breast cancer dormancy” 

Iva Santek          University of Rieka, Croatia (2020): “Transcriptomics of ER mutant mammary epithelial cells”

Sirine Sayagh      EPFL/Nestlé (2019/20): “Insulin, Adiponectin, and Leptin in human milk: impact on infant growth”

Etienne Chennai  EPFL (2019/20): “Modulation of ER levels in breast epithelial cells”

Céline Stibolt      Université de Lausanne (2018) “Role of EMT in invasion of ER+ breast tumors” 

Sophie Lancelot  Université de Rennes (2017) “Effects of different progestins on the human breast ” 

Ilaria Bresolin     Università di Padova (2017): “The Role of Rankl in Mammary Gland Development”

Mahya Eslami     University of Tehran, Iran (2015): “The Role of Adamts18 in breast cancer“

Caroline Contat   EPFL (2014): “Tissue slices as ex vivo model for tumor invasion”

Rachel Jeitziner   EPFL (2014) joint supervision with Prof. K. Hess (Mathematics)
“Topological approaches to identify RANKL biomarkers”

Valentina Scabia Università di Padova (2013): “The Role of paracrine signaling in ER positive Breast Cancer”

Sergio Klinke      EPFL (2008): “The Role of STAT5 in Mammary Gland Development”

Monica Zagallo   Università di Padova (2006): “Effects of Perinatal BPA exposure on Mammary gland development”

Davide Germano Università di Padova (2005): “The Role of RANKL in Mammary Gland Development”

Sonia Mallepell   Université de Lausanne (2004) : “The Role of  canonical Wnt signaling in Mammary gland development and tumorigenesis”

 

Flavia Hughes     (Sept 2023-  ) “Targeting the Progesterone Receptor in ER+ breast cancer using PROTACs ”

Lidia Hamed       (June 2023-  ) “Mechanisms underlying dormancy of ER+ breast cancer”

Daria Matvienko (Jan 2021-June 2025) “Dissecting therespective roles of ER, PR, and AR signaling during breast carcinogenesis” 

Carlos Ronchi     (Sept 2020-Sept 2024) ”Topological approaches to discern patient and Transcriptional profiles of progestins in the breast epithelium”Scientist at Tempus AI Chicago, USA

Andrea Agnelotto (July 2019 – Mar 2024) “AR signaling in the normal human breast epithelium and ER+ breast cancer”

Yueyun Zhang    (July 2019 – June 2024) “Microfluidics-based approach for personalized endocrine therapy”Bridge Fellow

Fabio DeMartino (September 2017- September 2022) “AR and PR signaling interactions in the human breast epithelium”NGS Scientist at Sophia Genetics, Rolle CH

Céline Constantin (September 2017-September 2021) “Role of ER signaling in the human breast epithelium”Senior scientist QC, Lonza, CH

Patrik Aouad       (February 2017-February 2022) “Role of EMT in metastasis of ER+ breast cancer”Postdoctoral training Fellow at Genentech, San Francisco, USA

Valentina Scabia (January 2014 - September 2019) “Role of PR in ER positive breast cancers”

                          Vice President Business Operations, Kvalito Consulting, CH

Dalya Ataca        (September 2013 - December 2018), Postdoc until Aug 2019 “Role of Adamts18 in mammary gland development”

                          Scientist, Opna Bio, Epalinges, CH

Rachel Jeitziner  (March 2014-2018) “Topological approaches to data analysis”Bioinformatician, SIB, University of Lausanne

M. Shamseddin   (February 2014 - March 2018) “Differential effects of natural progesterone and progestins on the human breast”

                          Postdoc at the University of Cambridge, UK, now RA MCM Manager (Biosimilars)

Duje Buric          (June 2010 - October 2014)
“Estrogen-induced cell fate determination”

                           Lecturer at the University of Marseille

Renuga Rajaram (Mar 2005-Mar 2010), awarded Marie-Heim-Vögtlein Fellowship
 “The Role of Wnt signaling in mammary gland development”

                          Postdoc at the University of Lausanne, Medical Writer Debiopharm, Lausanne, CH

Ozden Yalzin      (Jan 2005-June 2009), until April 2010 postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory
“The Role of Notch Signaling in Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer”

                          Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology, Turkey

Manfred Beleut   (Jan 2005-Dec 2008), “The Role of RANKL in Mammary Gland Development”
Head-Translational Medicine, QLAYM Healthcare AG, Germany and Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at PAREQ AG, Zürich, Business Development & Innovation Leader at Kurz, Fürth, Germany

Sonia Mallepell   (Sep 2004-Sep 2008), “The Role of Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Mammary Gland Development”

                          Postdoctoral fellow University of Lausanne

Stephan Duss      (Aug 2003-Nov 2007), “Identification and Characterization of Molecular Apocrine Carcinoma of the Human Breast”

                          Postdoctoral fellow Friedrich Miescher Institute, Basel; now Head of Data enabled Medicine, Roche

Sandra Gass        (May 2003-Jun 2007), “Characterization of BMP signaling in Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer”

                          Medical Scientific Liaison Manager at Novartis Pharma, Business Development at Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Laura Ciarloni     (Dec 2002-Nov 2006), “The Role of Amphiregulin in Mammary Gland Development” 

Postdoctoral fellow University of Lausanne, since 2008 Project Leader at Diagnoplex, Biosample Management Lead, Debiopharm, Lausanne ,CH 
 
 

Oct 2024             6th course on Breast Cancer: from clinics to biology, Institut Curie, Paris, France

2017, 2018, 2020, 2022 Organizer of “Preclinical and Personalized Breast Cancer Research Workshop”, EPFL, CH https://briskenlab.epfl.ch/PreclinicalModelCourse

Sept 2005-2018 Organizer of ISREC-wide weekly series of research seminars held by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows “sandwich seminars”

 

At EPFL I have taught the following courses to bachelor and master students:

 

1.       “Molecular Endocrinology”(28-56 hours):

                   2007     I taught this course to 3rd year Bachelor and 1st year Master students in Life Sciences

                   2008     I taught this course to 3rd year Bachelor students in the Life Sciences.

          since 2015     I teach this course to 1st and 2nd year master students in the Life Sciences 

 

2.       “Life Sciences”, (42 hours)

2009 and 2012        I taught this course to 3rd year Bachelor students in Mechanical Engineering.

 

3.       “Cancer Biology”, (20 hours)

2006-2008                I co-taught different parts of the cancer biology courses for bachelor students

 

Summer      2016     co-organizer of the Graduate Course “Cancer Prevention”: Sessions “Endocrine Disruptors”, “Causes of Breast Cancer” (8 hours)

Summer      2015     Graduate Course “The Lausanne Cancer Summer Course”: Session “Breast Cancer” (4 hours)

February     2014     PhD winter school “Novel Mathematical approaches to biological problems”
 3 day course joint ETHZ-EPFL

Summer     2016     “Highlights in Molecular Oncology” Doctoral Course, EPFL (2 hours)

Summer      2014     idem

Summer      2014     “Personalized Medicine” on “Breast Cancer” Master Course, EPFL (4 hours)

Summer      2014     Graduate Course “The Lausanne Cancer Summer Course”: Session “Breast and Prostate Cancer” (4 hours)

Summer      2013     Graduate Course “The Lausanne Cancer Summer Course”: Session “Breast and    Prostate Cancer” (4 hours)

Summer      2013     “Personalized Medicine” on “Breast Cancer” Master Course, EPFL (4 hours)

Summer      2012     Graduate Course “The Lausanne Cancer Summer Course”: Session “Breast and Prostate Cancer (4 hours)

Summer      2012     Ecole Supérieure de Santé, Lausanne, Cancer du Sein: Recherche (2 hours)

Fall            2012     Introduction to Biology I 1 year Bachelor, EPFL (2 hours)

Fall             2011     Co-organizer Graduate Course “Proteases in Cancer and Inflammation” Prodoc Module  (14 hours)

Summer      2012     Graduate Course “The Lausanne Cancer Summer Course”: Breast Cancer 
 (4 hours)

Spring         2011     “Life Sciences”, 3rd year Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering, EPFL, 
 (56 hours)

Spring         2011     Co-organizer Graduate Course “Developmental Biology” (14 hours)

Spring         2011     Master of Advanced Studies in Toxicology EPGL-University of Geneva 
(2 hours)

May           2011     “Elements d’endocrinologie moléculaire”, University of Geneva (2 hours)

May            2010     “Elements d’endocrinologie moléculaire”, University of Geneva (2 hours)

March         2010     “Cancer”, Master Biologie Médicale, UNIL, Lausanne, (4 hours) 

May            2010     “Elements d’endocrinologie moléculaire”, University of Geneva (2 hours)

March         2010     “Cancer”, Master Biologie Médicale, UNIL, Lausanne, (4 hours)

Sep             2009     Summer Course in Molecular and Clinical Oncology, UNIL, Lausanne (1 hour)

May           2009     “Elements d’endocrinologie moléculaire”, University of Geneva (2 hours)

March        2009     ECNIS Advanced Course “Stem Cells in Chemical Carcinogenesis”
                                Mainz, Germany (1 hour)

Fall             2008     “Cancer Biology”, Master Course, EPFL, Life Sciences, (8 hours)

Fall             2007     “Cancer Biology”, Master Course, EPFL, Life Sciences, (8 hours)

Fall             2006     “Cancer Biology”, Master Course, EPFL, Life Sciences, (6 hours)

Spring         2006     “Cell cycle and Cancer”, 3rd year Bachelor, EPFL, (6 hours)

Aug            2006     Summer School on Endocrinology, Bregenz, Austria

May            2006     “Genetic Regulation and Cancer”, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey (2 hours)

Fall             2004     Postgraduate course ISREC, “Cancer Biology”, organizer (50 hours)

Dec             2003     Undergraduate course on "Cell Cycle", Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Switzerland (4 hours)

Oct    1998-2001,     Instructor at Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School Course: 

Dec             2002     "The Skin and Its Cells", Charlestown, MA, USA (1 day) 

Fall             1998     Instructor at MIT with Robert Horvitz: Course for Advanced Undergraduates: 
“Towards an Understanding of Breast Cancer”, Cambridge, MA, USA 
 (42 hours)

 

July-Aug     2008     Dr. Jeffrey M. Rosen,
 C.C. Bell Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Medicine
 Distinguished Service Professor
 Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030-3498

 

April           2007     Ana M. Soto, M.D.
 Professor
 Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
 Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111

 

March         2006     Klaus Kratochwil, PhD
 Professor emeritus
 Austrian Academy of Sciences Salzburg

 

My research has fundamentally advanced the understanding of how hormones regulate mammary gland development and breast cancer. Through innovative and rigorous experimental approaches, I have made major conceptual contributions that have become reference points in modern breast cancer biology and have informed personalized clinical strategies.

I was the first to integrate germline genetic modifications in mice with breast tissue recombination techniques, providing unprecedented insight into the cell type–specific and pathway-specific roles of hormonal signaling. This work enabled the dissection of the sequential and interactive functions of estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin receptors in the mammary epithelium (Brisken et al., 1998, Brisken et al., 1999, Mallepell et al., 2006), establishing a conceptual framework that continues to guide both developmental and cancer biology.

I provided the first genetic evidence that steroid hormones exert their effects through both direct and paracrine mechanisms (Brisken et al., 1998, Mallepell et al., 2006), identifying key mediators such as amphiregulin (Ciarloni et al., 2007), RANKL, Wnt4 (Brisken et al., 2000, Beleut et al., 2010, Rajaram et al., 2015), and IGF-2 (Brisken et al., 2002)—now widely recognized as central regulators of hormone action in the breast. We identified the secreted protease, Adamts18 as a molecular link between epithelial hormone signaling and stromal/ECM changes important for stem cell activation (Ataca et al, 2020). Furthermore, our studies demonstrated that estrogen receptor (ER) signaling is not binary but defined by distinct populations or gradients with differential activation of AF-1 and AF-2 domains (Cagnet et al 2018), a discovery that reshaped understanding of the earliest steps in ER⁺ breast cancer.

On the translational front, my laboratory pioneered the development of high-fidelity preclinical models, including tissue microstructure assays and the mouse intraductal (MIND) xenograft model, which has transformed research on ER⁺ breast cancer—a disease subtype long hindered by the lack of physiologically relevant models (Sflomos et al 2016, Aouad 2022). Using this platform, my group established specific models for invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), identified the extracellular matrix as a defining feature of this subtype, and revealed that inhibition of lysyl oxidase (LOX) activity represents a unique therapeutic vulnerability, thus opening new avenues for targeted intervention (Sflomos et al 2021).

Building on the unique patient-derived xenograft (PDX) resources generated in my laboratory, we uncovered pronounced interpatient heterogeneity in hormone responses, emphasizing the need for individualized therapeutic approaches in the ER⁺ setting (Scabia et al. 2022). In parallel, my group developed xenografts of normal human breast epithelium to investigate the effects of clinically used contraceptive progestins. These studies demonstrated that progestins fall into two functional categories: androgenic progestins, which stimulate epithelial proliferation and may increase cancer risk, and anti-androgenic progestins, which do not and may confer protection (Shamseddin et al 2021). This work has provided a scientific rationale for refining hormonal contraception to reduce breast cancer risk.

Finally, I demonstrated that perinatal exposure to environmentally relevant, low doses of bisphenol A (BPA) increases mammary epithelial cell numbers and progesterone sensitivity in adulthood, thereby linking an environmental contaminant to elevated breast cancer susceptibility (Ayyanan et al., 2011).

Collectively, these studies have defined key hormonal and microenvironmental mechanisms in breast cancer initiation and progression and have established experimental and conceptual foundations that continue to guide the field.

Because of the large interest from laboratories around the globe in the intraductal modelling approach, I set up a 3-day workshop with practical and theoretical classes to teach the intraductal method of injection and the biology connected to it: http://brisken-lab.epfl.ch/PreclinicalModelCourse. 

 

To promote cancer prevention in public awareness, through teaching, and research, I co-founded the International Cancer Prevention Institute (ICPI), a Swiss Foundation. I sought and obtained EU-funding for this cause and have been awarded a 4.2 Mio EU ITN PhD training network, CANCERPREV. The network extended across seven countries and provided transdisciplinary training on the role of hormones and inflammation in skin and breast carcinogenesis to 15 ESRs.

 

 | Oct 2025 Sept 2026 | Breast Cancer Research Foundation Award | Tackling Breast Cancer in Young Women | 225 000 USD
 | July 2025 July 2030 | Programme Funding to the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre | Endocrine Control Mechanisms -targeting PR in ER+ breast cancer -targeting LOX activity in invasive lobular cancer | 
 | July 2025 Dec 2026 | Innosuisse (Swiss innovation agency) to Y. Zhang | HelixScreen-create a new era for breast cancer care by precision medicine 128.191 IP-LS   | 598 623.30 CHF
 | Aug 2024 July. 2025 | Bridge Award to Y. Zhang | Development of a drug screening platform for ER+ breast cancer | 130 000 CHF
 | Jan 2024 Dec. 2027 | Swiss Cancer League | KFS-5771-02-2023 The role of the androgen receptor in the human breast epithelium  | 369 800 CHF
 | Jan 2023 Dec. 2026 | SNF | 310030_212768 Exploring dormancy in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in vivo | 1 000 000 CHF
 | Nov 2019 Oct 2020 | Cancera and Paulssons Foundation | Advancing innovative cancer therapies | 210 000 EURO
 | Nov 2019 Feb 2024 | EU ITN CANCERPREV Network Coordinator   | Innovative strategies for cancer prevention with focus on sex hormone signaling and chronic inflammation | 4 200 000 EURO 
 | Aug 2019 July 2023 | ISREC Foundation PhD scholarship to Andrea Agnoletto | Androgen receptor (AR) signaling in the normal breast epithelium and in estrogen receptor α positive (ER+) breast cancer | 320 000 CHF
 | Jan 2022 June 2024 | Mildred Scheel Stiftung postdoctoral fellowship to Hazel Quinn | Tracing and characterization of disseminated cancer cells during the invisible stage of metastasis | 98 821.50 EURO
 | Sept 2019 Aug 2022 | OncoSuisse KFS-4738-02-2019-R | The role of androgen receptor signaling in the human breast epithelium: can anti-androgenic progestins prevent breast cancer? | 375 000 CHF 
 | May 2018 Apr 2022 | SNF 310030_179163 | Exploring key steps of the metastatic cascade in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in vivo | 904 000 CHF
 | May 2016 Apr 2019 | Biltema and ISREC Foundation | Mechanisms of endocrine resistance in hormone sensitive breast cancer | 450 000 EURO
 | May 2016 Apr 2019 | OncoSuisse
 KFS-3701-08-2015 | Lobular carcinoma of the breast: insights from a new PDX model | 357 750 CHF
 | Oct 2015 Sep 2018 | SNF 31003A_162550/1 | Hormonal and cell signaling control of mammary gland morphogenesis: the role of Adamts18… | 678 000 CHF
 | Sept2012 Apr 2016 | Oncosuisse
 KLS-2907-02-2012 | Mechanisms triggering cell proliferation in ER+ breast cancers in novel xenograft models | 339 200 CHF
 | Jun 2012 May2015 | SNF 31003A_141248 | Hormonal and cell signaling control of mammary gland morphogenesis: ER/PR and Notch signaling interactions |  624 000 CHF
 | Jan 2011 Jan 2016 | IMI PREDECT | New models for preclinical evaluation of drug efficacy in common solid tumors |  890 473 CHF
 | Sep 2010 Sep 2013 | PDFMP3_13268511 SNF-Prodoc | Role of proteases in immune response and tumorigenesis |   200 000 CHF
 | Apr 2009 May 2013 | NCCR, Molecular Oncology | Signaling pathways important in breast cancer and breast development |   800 000 CHF

 

 

 

Prof. Christine Desmedt MD, University of Louvain, Belgium

            - heads a rapid autopsy study on breast cancer patients and provides fresh tissue samples from                    different organs of patients to establish new PDXs

 

Dr. M. Fiche, International Cancer Prevention Institute, Lausanne, Switzerland

-breast pathologist who helps with sample collection and provides pathological specimens and expertise on histopathological evaluations

 

Anita Grigoriadis, King’s College London, UK

            -AI based image analysis of premalignant breast tissue

 

 

I collaborate with clinicians both at the university hospital, CHUV in Lausanne and in the private clinics who are part of the Réseau Lausannois du Sein. Plastic surgeons, oncologists, gynecologists, radiologists, and pathologists are part of my network.

 

Application no: 22158098.8: Method for hormone and drug screening in tissue samples filed 3/2022, granted 

 

Nature

Cell

Science

Lancet

Genes and Development

Developmental Cell

Cell Stem Cell

Cell Metabolism

PNAS

EMBO Journal

Development

International Journal of Cancer

Nature Communication

Nature reports

Stem Cell Reports

PLoS ONE

Molecular Cell Biology

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Oncogene

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry

The American Journal of Pathology

British Journal of Cancer

Cancer Research

Breast Cancer Research

Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia

Molecular Cancer Research

Cell Growth and Differentiation

Differentiation

BMC Developmental Biology

Endocrinology

Nature Breast Cancer

Molecular Endocrinology

Reproductive Toxicology

International Journal Cancer

Journal of Physiological Genomics

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Tissue Engineering

Anti-Cancer Drugs

Endocrine Reviews

Endocrine Related Cancer

 

AACR

Agence Nationale de la Recherche

Association for International Cancer Research

Breast Cancer Campaign

Dr. Mildred Scheel-Stiftung

ERC

Israel Science Foundation

Italian Ministry of Health

MCRC Biobank

MRC

National Center for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (UK)

Oncosuisse

Österreichisches Bundesministerium für Bildung Wissenschaften und Kultur

Swedish Research Council

Swiss Bridge

Swiss National Science Foundation: Grants and Fellowships

 

Editorial Board Member:  Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia (since 2006)

                                         Endocrinology (2021-2024)

 

2025 Guest Editor NPJ Breast Cancer Collection on Models

Nov 2025           Endocrine Society Hormone-dependent Cancers ,York, UK 

Jan 2023             EACR showcase: Mind the Gap: Trailblazing Cancer Prevention Virtual Event, Worldwide

June 2022           ICPI / ITN CANCERPREV summer workshop, Pollone, Italy 

June 2020           Pezcoller Symposium Aging and Cancer, Trento, Italy

June 2019           Pezcoller Symposium Cancer as a disrupted Tissue, Trento, Italy 

May 2018           Preclinical and Personalized Breast Cancer Research, Lausanne, Switzerland

June 2017           7thInternational Conference Notch Targeting in Cancer, Konnos Bay, Cyprus

March  2017       Preclinical and Personalized Breast Cancer Research, Lausanne, Switzerland

May 2011-2015  Hinterzartener Gesprächskreis, Cadenabbia, Italy

March 2011        Session chair, Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Breast Cancer, St. Gallen, Switzerland (5000 participants)

March 2009        Session chair, Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Breast Cancer, St. Gallen, Switzerland (5000 participants)

June 2008           Chair: Gordon Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”, Il Cioccho, Italy
 Raised 80 000 USD of funding for the conference

Feb 2008            USGEB 2008 “Biology meets Engineering”, co-organizer

June 2007           Vice Chair: Gordon Research Conference, “Mammary Gland Biology”, Newport, USA

Jan 2003             ISREC Conference, “Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer”, Lausanne, Switzerland, co-organizer

Since Sep 2019   Member of Scientific Advisory Board CIC bioGUNE Center for Cooperative Research

in Biosciences, Bilbao, Spain

Dec 2018            American University Beirut, Lebanon, Faculty Promotion to Full Professor

Dec 2018            University Cape Town, South Africa: Advancing Woman Funding Call

2018                   Selection Committee for the AACR Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer 

                          Research

Spring 2017        Jury member Swiss Bridge Award 2017

2014-2016          AACR Breast Cancer Research Grants Scientific Review Committee  

Spring 2012        AACR Program Committee; member of the Molecular and Preclinical Endocrinology Subcommittee of the Endocrinology Section of the 2012 Program Committee

Spring 2012        Member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Special Program in Molecular Clinical Oncology AIRC – the Italian Association for Cancer Research, IFOM, Milan, Italy 

Spring 2012        External expert for junior faculty recruitment at the University of Turku, Finland

Dec 2011            Evaluation of breast cancer course proposed for the PhD program
‘Biomedicine and Health Sciences’, School of Medicine. University of Zagreb, Croatia.

Dec 2011            Amgen Global Breast Cancer Scientific Advisory Board, San Antonio, USA 

Nov 2011           SNF: Mobility and Networks Conference

Nov 2010            Expert on the evaluation panel of the Ludwig Boltzmann Cluster for Oncology, Vienna, Austria

Jun 2010             Member of the Scientific Advisory Board OncoCampus Switzerland

Sept 2009           SNF: Gender Equality meeting 

June 2009           SNF: National Workshop on Biobanks

April 2009          Consulting for Wyeth, Women’s Health Program, Florida, USA

March 2009        Interview on “Globalization in Science” for the Swiss Science and Technology Council

Since Feb 2007   Member of IBCSG (International Breast Cancer Study Group) Biological Protocol Working Group (as the only basic scientist on the board that decides on the fate of the patient samples archived in the context of the clinical studies)

2006-2010          Member of Breast Cancer Research's Viewpoints Team 

Feb 2006            Swiss Re (World’s Number 1 reinsurance company) on Endocrine Disruptors, Rüschlikon, Zürich, Switzerland

Sep 2005            Consulting for TAP, Chicago, USA 

2005-2012          Member of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), Stiftung zur Krebsbekämpfung Zürich, Switzerland

 

Endocrine Society

AACR

AAAS

EACR

 

Since 2007   SAB International Breast Cancer Study Group: Biological Protocol Working Group 

Since 2006   Breast Cancer Research's Viewpoints Team 

2017-2019   AACR Outstanding Investigator Award in Breast Cancer Research Selection Committee

2017            Jury Swiss Bridge Award 2017

2014-2016   AACR Breast Cancer Research Grants Scientific Review Committee  

2012            AACR Program Committee; member of the Molecular and Preclinical Endocrinology Subcommittee of the Endocrinology Section of the 2012 Program Committee

2012            Member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Special Program in Molecular Clinical Oncology AIRC – the Italian Association for Cancer Research, IFOM, Milan, Italy (invited by P. DiFiore)

2012            External expert for junior faculty recruitment at the University of Turku, Finland

2012            San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, USA Mentor at Career Development Forum, Networking Session for Young Investigators

2012            Chair at “Colloque bilan et perspectives SEST”, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Paris, France

 

July 2025     Comment on nature publication on dormancy in Le Figaro, France.

June 2024    Keynote Speaker at official launch of the Women’s Cancers Institute by the French State, Institut Curie-Universités de Paris, France

Feb 2024      Co-organized and presented at public symposium on Cancer Prevention, Olympic Museum, 

                   Lausanne, CH

Oct 2023      Public lecture “Octobre Rose”, CHUV Lausanne: “ Les techniques actuelles de recherche en laboratoire pour faire avancer les connaissances”, (in French) attended by 300 people.

March 2023 Public discussion Palais de la Rumine, Lausanne following the article in the L’Illustré: “Faut-il avoir peur de la pilule? » (in French) 

Feb 2023     Co-organized and chaired a public symposium on Cancer Prevention at the Olympic Museum, 

                   Lausanne, CH

Oct 2018     Public lecture “Octobre Rose”, CHUV Lausanne: “Qu’en sait-on du développement du cancer du sein?”, attended by 300 people (in French)

Oct 2015     Public lecture “Women in Science 4th annual lecture and luncheon”, Montreux.

 

Contributor to EPFL open doors, multiple public relation and fund raising events.

Interviews for Hebdomadaire, Femina, Agéfi, Oncosuisse, NCCR, Wissenschaft DRS2-radio, 24 heures, TSR1, Tribune de Genève, RAI Trentino, l’Illustré and others. 

Presentations to businessmen, bankers, lawyers, drug company representatives as well as high school students, Swiss Professional Women (Bern) and the “Women on Wheels” (Harley-Davison Drivers). These activities were performed in English, French, German, and Italian. 

 

 

2015 Co-founder of the International Cancer Prevention Institute, a Swiss foundation https://cancerprev.com/

 

 

2021-2024                 Whistle blower about incorrect procedures and lack of transparency up to federal court

2019-2021                 Member of EPFL Research commission

2022-2023                 Member of the International PhD program committee EDMS

2019-2022                 Vice Director of the International PhD program in Molecular Life Sciences

Spring 2019               External Expert for promotion committee: Molecular Medicine, Turku

2017-2018                 Catalyse4Life, Committee for industrial partnerships with SV, EPFL

Fall 2015                   External Expert for promotion committee: Molecular Medicine, Turku

Fall 2015                   Member of promotion committee: Pharmacologie et Toxicologie, UNIL

Spring 2015               Member of the hiring committee: Professor of Animal Genetics, ETHZ

Spring        2010       Member of the hiring committee: Faculty in Biophotonics, EPFL

Winter         2009       Member of the hiring committee: ISREC Faculty in Life Sciences, EPFL 

Summer      2009       SNF: National Workshop on Biobanks

Spring         2009       Member of the hiring committee 2009: Faculty in Biophotonics, EPFL

2006-2012                 Member of the International PhD program committee

2005-2018                 Initiator and organizer of “sandwich seminars” ISREC weekly internal seminar series for doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows 

2004-2009                 Responsible for floor’s support personnel

2002-2012                 Women’s representative for the NCCR Molecular Oncology