Adriana Beltran

Adriana Beltran, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Director of the Human Pluripotent Cell Core. She holds adjunct roles in Pharmacology and collaborates extensively with the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC). Her research focuses on engineering cellular models to study neurodevelopmental disorders and cancer, particularly leveraging induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and organoids. Key contributions include developing breast cancer organoid biobanks and elucidating transcriptional adaptations to cancer therapies.

Beltran earned her PhD in Marine Biotechnology from CICESE (Mexico) and completed postdoctoral training in Pharmacology at UNC. She has secured grants including the ELEVATE Award (2025) and Faculty Research Support Grant (2021). Her mentorship excellence was recognized through the Nova Award (2023) and Mentoring Awards from the Office of Graduate Education.

Research interests span genome engineering, stem cell differentiation, and precision medicine. Notable projects include studying shared genetic variants across psychiatric disorders and investigating mechanisms underlying drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer. She actively trains graduate students like Sonja Mihailovic (GMB program), who advances bioentrepreneurial ventures in pluripotent stem cell applications.

Beltran's lab integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic data to uncover therapeutic targets. Recent work highlights the predictive role of early cell cycle genes in cortical organoid models and the synergistic effects of BAZ2/BRD9 inhibitors in breast cancer. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges basic science with clinical translation through partnerships across UNC's medical and data science communities.