Diane Pennica Senior Scientist: Tumor Biology and Angiogenesis Profile | Education/Background | Top Scientific Papers | Awards & Honors

"I was recruited by Genentech while doing my postdoctoral work at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology. In May 1980, I accepted a position with Genentech and became the 60th employee. I came here because it looked like an exciting new start-up company with a promising vision of trying to make a difference in people's lives."

"For the last 22 years, my focus has been on cloning genes involved in heart disease and cancer. More specifically, some of my most exciting projects have been cloning and characterizing the genes for t-PA, urokinase, p53, uromodulin, TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin, interferon-gamma, cardiotrophin-1, and WISP-1."

Current Projects "For the last three years, my research has focused on trying to identify genes that are aberrantly induced during colon tumor development. Such genes may be useful markers for cancer diagnosis and may be potential targets for cancer therapeutics. We are using the Wnt-1 signaling pathway as a model system to identify potential target genes that may contribute to the neoplastic process. The importance of the Wnt-1 signal transduction pathway in colon carcinoma and other cancers has been well-established based on the finding that mutations in key components of the pathway, such as APC and beta-catenin, are known to play a role in the development of these types of cancer."

Collaborations "One of my most important collaborations was with a researcher in Belgium, who provided us with key reagents that allowed us to clone t-PA. I continue to work with collaborators from all over the world who are instrumental in furthering the research on some of the genes I have cloned."

Inspiration/Vision "My continuing inspiration comes from a Christmas card that I have framed in my office and the many notes like it that I have received over the years. I'll never forget receiving the Christmas card from a patient whom I'd never met. He wrote, 'Dear Dr. Pennica, Thank you for helping to save my life.' He was one of the 1.5 million heart attack victims treated with t-PA. I'll also never forget meeting the first heart attack patient treated with t-PA. He was talking with some of our Marketing people, and when we were introduced, he immediately hugged me and said, ' Thank you. Your drug saved my life.' Doing the science is very exciting, but the most important and rewarding thing is making a difference in someone's life."