Exploiting CDK12 as a therapeutic target for HER2 positive breast cancer

Alessandra Allotta joined the laboratory following the completion of a Master’s degree in Medical Biotechnology at the University of Naples Federico II, where her award-winning research focused on therapy resistance in breast cancer.

As a PhD researcher within Professor Young’s group, Alessandra is investigating the molecular mechanisms that enable breast cancer cells to spread to the brain. Her research focuses on identifying critical transcriptional networks that drive metastasis in HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancers.

By uncovering the biological processes that underpin disease progression, Alessandra’s work is helping to identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities, including aberrant CDK12, and accelerate the development of treatments for patients with advanced breast cancer.