Maria Catherine Todd

Maria Catherine Todd is a Professor of Biology at Southwestern University, where she has established herself as a leading researcher in cancer biology with a particular emphasis on the molecular mechanisms of cancer metastasis. Her work primarily focuses on the role of abnormally expressed tight junction proteins in endometrial cancer development and metastasis, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Maria Cuevas from the Biology Department.

Dr. Todd received her PhD from Cambridge University in 1990 and her BSc (Hons) from the University of Sussex in 1987. Throughout her distinguished career, she has received multiple honors including the Exemplary Teaching Award from the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church in 2013 and the Southwestern University Teaching Award in 2010. Her research expertise spans cancer biology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, cellular physiology, and cell culture techniques.

Dr. Todd's research has particularly focused on understanding the mechanisms of cancer metastasis, with significant contributions to the study of tight junction proteins in endometrial and breast cancer. She has investigated how abnormally expressed tight junction proteins like claudin-3 and claudin-4 contribute to cancer progression, examining their expression patterns, subcellular localization, and functional roles in various cancer cell lines. Her work has also explored cell cycle regulation in ovarian cancer, particularly the role of cyclin E protein, and has examined the tumor suppressive effects of the p16 gene in breast cancer.

Analysis of Dr. Todd's publications reveals a consistent focus on cancer biology with particular emphasis on molecular mechanisms of metastasis across multiple cancer types including endometrial, breast, ovarian, and lung cancers. Her research shows a progression from early work on chromosome 3 deletions in lung cancer to more recent studies on tight junction proteins in gynecological cancers. Much of her recent work involves collaborations with undergraduate students, demonstrating her commitment to research mentoring and education.

• Exemplary Teaching Award (Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church) - 2013
• Southwestern University Teaching Award - 2010

Dr. Todd has secured substantial research funding including multiple grants from the Joe and Jesse Crump Medical Foundation, the Ed and Suzanne Ellis Term Chair (2017-2020), the Keck Foundation, and the National Science Foundation. She has mentored numerous undergraduate students in cancer research, with many co-authoring publications and presenting at national conferences including the American Association for Cancer Research meetings. Her laboratory in Fondren-Jones 211 provides valuable research opportunities for Biology majors interested in cancer biology and molecular genetics.