PHSPonce Health Sciences University · Pharmacology
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research Unit
Harold I Saavedra · Ponce, Puerto Rico
Research Focus
Dr. Harold I. Saavedra's lab focuses on understanding triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a particularly aggressive form of this disease that affects many individuals in their catchment areas. By investigating the roles of specific kinases involved in cell division, the lab aims to uncover new therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for patients, particularly those from diverse ancestral backgrounds. The research merges genetic analysis with experimental models to explore how targeting these pathways can help manage or treat TNBC.
triple-negative breast cancercentrosome amplificationmitotic kinasesearly metastasisbreast cancer treatmentHispanic healthgene expressiontumor markers
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate signaling pathways linking mitotic kinases to early metastasis in breast cancer patients.
AIM 02Determine correlations between mitotic kinase expression and diversity in patient outcomes using genomic data.
AIM 03Analyze the effects of co-inactivating mitotic kinases on tumor characteristics and drug responses in TNBC cells.
AIM 04Identify new actionable targets by examining the roles of TTK and NEK2 in cancer progression.
Skills the Lab Values
RNA sequencingcell cultureCRISPRmouse modelstissue microarray analysisgenomic analysisdata interpretationprotein analysiscell migration assays
Output against the department
Publications109bottom 29% of dept.326th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.3kbottom 25% of dept.347th of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.