Michelle Dawson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry at Brown University, with appointments in the School of Engineering and the Center for Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Dawson received her BS in Biomedical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University before working as a postdoc in the Edwin L. Steele lab at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her group studies cell biophysical properties that regulate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in cancer. Her current work is largely focused on studying the role of aging and therapy induced changes in the tumor microenvironment on cancer progression. Dr. Dawson's research is funded by NSF and NIH grants, including a recent NCI R01 on the role of lipid metabolism in ovarian cancer progression.
| Schutte SC, Ghosh D, Moset Zupan A, Warwar R, Dawson MR. "Differential Response to Mechanical Cues in Uterine Fibroid Versus Paired Myometrial Cells." Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), vol. 30, no. 11, 2023, pp. 3305-3314. |
| Mejia Peña, Carolina, Skipper, Thomas A., Hsu, Jeffrey, Schechter, Ilexa, Ghosh, Deepraj, Dawson, Michelle R. "Metronomic and single high-dose paclitaxel treatments produce distinct heterogenous chemoresistant cancer cell populations." Scientific Reports, vol. 13, no. 1, 2023. |
| Lee AH, Ghosh D, Koh IL, Dawson MR. "Senescence-associated exosomes transfer miRNA-induced fibrosis to neighboring cells." Aging, vol. 15, no. 5, 2023, pp. 1237-1256. |
| Ghosh D, Hsu J, Soriano K, Peña CM, Lee AH, Dizon DS, Dawson MR. "Spatial Heterogeneity in Cytoskeletal Mechanics Response to TGF-β1 and Hypoxia Mediates Partial Epithelial-to-Meshenchymal Transition in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells." Cancers, vol. 15, no. 12, 2023. |
| Lee AH, Mejia Peña C, Dawson MR. "Comparing the Secretomes of Chemorefractory and Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer Cell Populations." Cancers, vol. 14, no. 6, 2022. |
| Xuan B, Ghosh D, Dawson MR. "Contributions of the distinct biophysical phenotype of polyploidal giant cancer cells to cancer progression." Seminars in Cancer Biology, vol. 81, 2021, pp. 64-72. |
| Dawson MR, Xuan B, Hsu J, Ghosh D. "Force balancing ACT-IN the tumor microenvironment: Cytoskeletal modifications in cancer and stromal cells to promote malignancy." International review of cell and molecular biology, vol. 360, 2021, pp. 1-31. |
| Ali MRK, Wu Y, Ghosh D, Do BH, Chen K, Dawson MR, Fang N, Sulchek TA, El-Sayed MA. "Correction to Nuclear Membrane-Targeted Gold Nanoparticles Inhibit Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion." ACS Nano, vol. 14, no. 9, 2020, pp. 12260. |
| Lee AH, Ghosh D, Quach N, Schroeder D, Dawson MR. "Ovarian Cancer Exosomes Trigger Differential Biophysical Response in Tumor-Derived Fibroblasts." Scientific reports, vol. 10, no. 1, 2020, pp. 8686. |
| Ghosh D, Mejia Pena C, Quach N, Xuan B, Lee AH, Dawson MR. "Senescent mesenchymal stem cells remodel extracellular matrix driving breast cancer cells to more invasive phenotype." Journal of cell science, vol. 133, no. 2, 2020. |
| Xuan B, Ghosh D, Jiang J, Shao R, Dawson MR. "Vimentin filaments drive migratory persistence in polyploidal cancer cells." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117, no. 43, 2020, pp. 26756-26765. |
| Quach ND, Kaur SP, Eggert MW, Ingram L, Ghosh D, Sheth S, Nagy T, Dawson MR, Arnold RD, Cummings BS. "Paradoxical Role of Glypican-1 in Prostate Cancer Cell and Tumor Growth." Scientific reports, vol. 9, no. 1, 2019, pp. 11478. |
| Xuan B, Ghosh D, Cheney EM, Clifton EM, Dawson MR. "Dysregulation in Actin Cytoskeletal Organization Drives Increased Stiffness and Migratory Persistence in Polyploidal Giant Cancer Cells." Scientific reports, vol. 8, no. 1, 2018, pp. 11935. |
| Ghosh D, Dawson MR. "Microenvironment Influences Cancer Cell Mechanics from Tumor Growth to Metastasis." Systems Biology of RNA Binding Proteins, vol. 1092, 2018, pp. 69-90. |
| Ali MRK, Wu Y, Ghosh D, Do BH, Chen K, Dawson MR, Fang N, Sulchek TA, El-Sayed MA. "Nuclear Membrane-Targeted Gold Nanoparticles Inhibit Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion." ACS Nano, vol. 11, no. 4, 2017, pp. 3716-3726. |
| Ghosh, Deepraj, McGrail, Daniel J., Dawson, Michelle R. "TGF-β1 Pretreatment Improves the Function of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Wound Bed." Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, vol. 5, 2017, pp. 28. |
| McGrail D, Kieu Q, Iandoli J, Dawson M. "Actomyosin Tension as a Determinant of Metastatic Cancer Mechanical Tropism." Physical Biology, vol. 12, no. 2, 2015, pp. 026001. |
| McGrail D, Qi M, Khambhati N, Patel, K, Dawson M. "Alterations in Ovarian Cancer Cell Adhesion Drive Taxol Resistance by Increasing Microtubule Dynamics in a FAK-dependent Manner." Scientific Reports, vol. 5, 2015, pp. 9529. |
| McAndrews K, Yi J, McGrail D, Dawson M. "Enhanced Adhesion of Stromal Cells to Invasive Cancer Cells Regulated by Cadherin 11." ACS Chemical Biology, vol. 10, no. 8, 2015, pp. 1932-38. |
| McAndrews K, Yi J, McGrail D, Ravikumar N, Dawson M. "Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induce Directional Migration of Invasive Breast Cancer Cells through TGF-β." Scientific Reports, vol. 5, 2015, pp. 16941. |
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Dawson M, Ghosh, D.
"Mucosal Barriers." Drug Delivery Across Physiological Barriers, edited by Silvia Muro, Massachusetts, Pan Stanford Publishing, 2015, pp. 155-173.
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| McGrail D, McAndrews K, Brandenburg C, Ravikumar N, Kieu Q, Dawson M. "Osmotic regulation is required for cancer cell survival under solid stress." Biophysical Journal, vol. 109, no. 7, 2015, pp. 1334-37. |
| McGrail D, Kieu M, Mezencev R, McDonald J, Dawson M. "SNAIL-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition produces concerted biophysical changes from altered cytoskeletal gene expression." FASEB J, vol. 29, no. 4, 2015, pp. 1280-89. |
| McAndrews K, Kim F, Lam T, McGrail D, Dawson M. "Architectural and Mechanical Cues Direct Mesenchymal Stem Cell Interactions with Cross-Linked Gelatin Scaffolds." Tissue engineering. Part A, vol. 20, no. 23-24, 2014, pp. 3252-60. |
| Ghosh D, Lili L, McGrail DJ, Matyunina LV, McDonald JF, Dawson MR. "Integral role of platelet-derived growth factor in mediating transforming growth factor-β1-dependent mesenchymal stem cell stiffening." Stem Cells and Development, vol. 23, no. 3, 2014, pp. 245-61. |
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Dawson M, Tseng Y, Lee J, McAndrews K.
"Intracellular Particle Tracking Rheology." Handbook on Imaging in Biological Mechanics, edited by Corey Neu, Guy Genin, Florida, CRC Press, 2014, pp. 381-387.
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| Datla S, McGrail D, Lyle A, Pounkova L, Hilenski1 L, Dawson M, Lassègue B, and Griendling K. "Poldip2 Controls Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Migration by Regulating Focal Adhesion Turnover and Polarization." Applied Journal of Physiology, vol. 307, no. 7, 2014, pp. H945-57. |
| McAndrews K, McGrail D, Quach N, Dawson M. "Spatially coordinated changes in intracellular rheology and extracellular force exertion during mesenchymal stem cell differentiation." Physical Biology, vol. 11, 2014, pp. 056004. |
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Ghosh D, Lilli L, McGrail D, Matyunina L, McDonald J, Dawson M.
"TGFb1 Induced Stiffening of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Depends on PDGF-BB Signaling." Stem Cells and Development, vol. 23, no. 3, 2014, pp. 245-61.
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| McGrail D, Kieu Q, Dawson M. "The Malignancy of Metastatic Ovarian Cancer Cells is Increased on Soft Matrices Through a Mechanosensitive Rho-ROCK Pathway." Journal of cell science, vol. 127, 2014, pp. 2621-2626. |
| McGrail D, McAndrews K, Dawson M. "Biomechanical Analysis Predicts Decreased Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Function before Molecular Differences." Experimental Cell Research, vol. 319, 2013, pp. 684-696. |
| Don-Salu-Hewage AS, Chan SY, McAndrews KM, Chetram MA, Dawson MR, Bethea DA, Hinton CV. "Cysteine (C)-x-C receptor 4 undergoes transportin 1-dependent nuclear localization and remains functional at the nucleus of metastatic prostate cancer cells." PLoS ONE, vol. 8, no. 2, 2013, pp. e57194. |
| McGrail DJ, Ghosh D, Quach ND, Dawson MR. "Differential mechanical response of mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts to tumor-secreted soluble factors." PLoS ONE, vol. 7, no. 3, 2012, pp. e33248. |
| Dawson M, Chae S, Jain RK, Duda D. "Direct evidence for lineage-dependent effects of bone marrow stromal cells on tumor progression." American journal of cancer research, vol. 1, no. 2, 2011, pp. 144-154. |
| Suk JS, Lai SK, Boylan NJ, Dawson MR, Boyle MP, Hanes J. "Rapid transport of muco-inert nanoparticles in cystic fibrosis sputum treated with N-acetyl cysteine." Nanomedicine (London, England), vol. 6, no. 2, 2011, pp. 365-75. |
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Kozin, SV, Kamoun, WS, Huang, Y, Dawson, M, Jain, RK, Duda, DG.
"Rapid macrophage infiltration after local irradiation facilitates tumor re-growth whereas TEMs and not EPCs recruitment facilitates relapse of irradiated tumors." Cancer Research, vol. 70, no. 14, 2010, pp. 5679-85.
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| Kozin SV, Kamoun WS, Huang Y, Dawson MR, Jain RK, Duda DG. "Recruitment of myeloid but not endothelial precursor cells facilitates tumor regrowth after local irradiation." Cancer Research, vol. 70, no. 14, 2010, pp. 5679-85. |
| Tang B, Dawson M, Lai S, Wang YY, Suk, JS, Yang M, Zeitlin P, Boyle M, Fu J, Hanes J. "Biodegradable polymer nanoparticles that rapidly penetrate the human mucus barrier." PNAS, vol. 106, no. 46, 2009, pp. 19268-73. |
| Tang BC, Dawson M, Lai SK, Wang YY, Suk JS, Yang M, Zeitlin P, Boyle MP, Fu J, Hanes J. "Biodegradable polymer nanoparticles that rapidly penetrate the human mucus barrier." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 106, no. 46, 2009, pp. 19268-73. |
| Perentes JY, McKee TD, Ley CD, Mathiew H, Dawson M, Padera TP, Munn LL, Jain RK, Boucher Y. "In vivo imaging of extracellular matrix remodeling by tumor-associated fibroblasts." Nature methods, vol. 6, no. 2, 2009, pp. 143-45. |
| Dawson M, Duda D, Chae S, Fukumura D, Jain RK. "VEGFR1 activity modulates myeloid cell infiltration in growing lung metastases but is not required for spontaneous metastasis formation." PLoS ONE, vol. 4, no. 9, 2009, pp. e6525. |
| Dawson M, Duda D, Fukumura D, Jain RK. "VEGFR1-activity independent metastasis formation." Nature, vol. 461, 2009, pp. E4. |
| Suh J, Dawson M, Hanes J. "Real-time particle tracking: Applications to drug and gene delivery." Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, vol. 57, 2005, pp. 63-78. |
| Dawson M, Krauland E, Wirtz D, Hanes J. "Transport of polymeric nanoparticle gene carriers in gastric mucus." Biotechnology progress, vol. 20, no. 3, 2004, pp. 851-857. |
| Dawson M, Wirtz D, and Hanes J. "Enhanced viscoelasticity of human cystic fibrotic sputum correlates with increasing microheterogeneity in particle transport." Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 278, 2003, pp. 50393-50401. |
Aging is the leading risk factor for developing deadly cancers with over 60% of newly diagnosed cancers and 70% of cancer-related deaths occurring in individuals that are 65-and-older. In the next decade, the 65-and-older population will expand as aging baby boomers turn 65. Therefore, it is a critical time to increase our understanding of the role of aging in the onset and progression of cancer and the challenges that will be associated with cancer care in an aging population. The overarching goal in the Dawson lab is to understand how senescent cells that accumulate in aging and environmentally stressed tissues contribute to tumor microenvironment remodeling, tissue stiffening and fibrosis, and cancer progression to metastatic and/or chemoresistant disease.This research is at the intersection between aging, cancer, and women’s health, since our work is solely foucsed on women’s cancers that have been historically understudied.
The Dawson lab develops in vitro models of the tumor microenvironment that can be used for quantitative analysis of senescence-associated tumor microenvironment modifications. Using high-resolution imaging, they study the dynamic structure of cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) to see how ECM changes in the presence of senescent cells, immunomodulatory cells and proteins, and/or invasive cancer cells. In vitro studies are combined with clinical samples (patient-derived cells, ascites, or tissues), in vivo mouse studies, or human tissue array analyses to demonstrate the clinical relevance of these models. The long-term goal of this research is to understand how heterogeneity develops in the tumor and contributes to the formation of invasive and drug-resistant cells (such as polyploid giant cancer cells) in aging and environmentally stressed tumor and tissue microenvironments.
Project Title: Lipid Metabolism Switch Triggers Invasive and Chemoresistant Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Phenotype (13499222). Funding Source: National Institutes of Health. Role: PI
Project Title: Research Supplement - Investigating the Biophysics of Giant Polyploidal Cancer Cells in an Aging Tumor Stroma (2133460). Funding Source: National Science Foundation, Role: PI
Project Title: REU Supplement - Investigating the Biophysics of Giant Polyploidal Cancer Cells in an Aging Tumor Stroma (006188). Funding Source: National Science Foundation, Role: PI
Project Title: Collaborative Research: A Digital Manufacturing Platform to Democratize Biological Tissue Access Using Smart Two-Photon Polymerization (2043243). Funding Source: National Science Foundation, Role: Co-PI
Project Title: Role of Senescence Associated Extracellular Vesicles in Radiation-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis. Funding Source: Research Seed Funds, Office of Vice President for Research, Brown University, Role: PI
Project Title: Clinical Relevance of Polyploidal Giant Cancer Cells and Biomarker Identification. Funding Source: Cancer Center at Brown University Pilot Project Award, Role: PI
Project Title: Standard Award: Investigating the Biophysics of Giant Polyploidal Cancer Cells in an Aging Tumor Stroma (1825174). Funding Source: National Science Foundation, Role: PI
Project Title: Development of a 3D Organoid Culture Model to Identify Drivers of Cancer Progression. Funding Source: OVPR Grant Resubmission Funds, Role: PI
Project Title: Molecular and Mechanical Regulators of the Metastatic Niche and Ovarian Cancer Metastasis (005756). Funding Source: COBRE, Lifespan Center for Cancer Research Development, Role: PI
Project Title: Using Single Cell Biophysics and Shear Wave Ultrasound Elastography to Measure Cancer Mechanics Across Multiple Length Scales. Funding Source: Research Seed Funds, Office of Vice President for Research, Brown University, Role: Co-PI
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | PhD | The Johns Hopkins University |
| 1999 | BS | Louisiana Tech University |
| Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital | 2005-2008 | Boston, MA, United States |
Dean’s Research Bonus for excellent research and funding efforts (2024)
Rising Star Faculty Member, CMTM Symposium (2021)
American Association for Cancer Research Minority and Minority Serving Institution Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research Award (2018)
Georgia Tech Women in Engineering (WIE) Teaching Excellence Award (2013)
Georgia Tech Junior Faculty Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award (2013)
Georgia Cancer Coalition Breast Cancer Research Award (2009)
Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Minority Fellowship (2006)
CRS-Capsugel/Pfizer Innovative Aspects of Oral Drug Delivery Award (2004)
International Society for Aerosol Medicine Student Research Award (2003)
Biophysical Society FASEB MARC Travel Award (2003)
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2001)
Ford Foundation Predoctoral Minority Fellowship (2001)
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Beland, Michael | Professor of Diagnostic Imaging |
| Brodsky, Alexander | Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Research) |
| Darling, Eric | Associate Professor of Medical Science, Associate Professor of Engineering, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics |
| Dizon, Don | Professor of Medicine, Professor of Surgery |
| El-Deiry, Wafik | Mencoff Family University Professor of Medical Science, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine |
| Freiman, Richard | Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Harrington, Elizabeth | Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, Professor of Medicine |
| Mani, Sendurai | Dean's Professor of Translational Oncology |
| Oancea, Elena | Professor of Medical Science |
| Rounds, Sharon | Associate Dean for Translational Science, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine |
| Sedivy, John | Hermon C. Bumpus Professor of Biology, Associate Dean and Director, Center for the Biology of Aging |
| Sharkey, Katherine | Associate Dean for Gender Equity, Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior |
| Srivastava, Vikas | Howard M. Reisman Assistant Professor of Engineering |
| Toussaint, Kimani | Thomas J. Watson, Sr. Professor of Science |
| Tripathi, Anubhav | Professor of Engineering, Director of Biomedical Engineering |
| Wang, Yihong | Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine |
Therapeutics
Pathobiology
Center for Biomedical Engineering
Legorreta Cancer Center
Joint Program in Cancer Biology
| Assistant Professor. School of Engineering, - |
| BIOL 0810 - Applied Cell and Molecular Biology |
| BIOL 1810 - 21st Century Applications in Cell and Molecular Biology |
| BIOL 2010A - Introduction to Molecular Research in the Life Sciences |
