Dr. Victoria P. Belancio
Program Coordinator: COBRE Pilot Project Program
Department: Structural and Cellular Biology
Email: vperepe@tulane.edu
Bio: My longstanding interest has been in understanding molecular mechanisms of transposable elements function, interaction with their host and the impact these transposons have on human health through their contribution to genomic instability. This interest has stemmed from my training in Cytology and Genetics, Medical Genetics, Virology, and Molecular and Cellular Biology.
My lab has made both intellectual and technical contributions to our field. Our transposon-centered multidisciplinary research involves studies of DNA, RNA and protein biogenesis, cell signaling, DNA damage response, genomic instability, epigenetics, senescence, circadian disruption, and age-associated diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease. My lab has utilized in vitro, cell culture, in vivo, and bioinformatics approaches for these studies and developed custom mouse models, tools, and reagents, which resulted in an approved US patent and a filed international patent application. These projects have been supported by federal (DOD, K01, COBRE, R01, R21s, VA Merit Award) and private (The Ellison Medical Foundation, Kay Yow Cancer Fund, Brown Foundation, Ladies Leukemia League, Edward G. Schlieder Foundation) funding agencies. I had organized three FASEB conference on Mobile DNA (2019, 2021, and 2022). Currently, I serve as an Associate Editor for Mobile DNA and Frontiers in Aging journals as well as a standing member on the Cancer Genetics NIH study section. I had contributed to several NIH workshops on aging and cancer.
My diverse scientific experiences combine well with my administrative duties and commitment to mentoring, which involves serving on the Tulane Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences Steering and Admissions committees, directing a Pilot Project Program on the COBRE in Aging and Regenerative Medicine grant, and serving as Associate Director for Cancer Education at the Tulane Cancer Center and Assistant Director for the Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination program at the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium.
