Antonella Papa

Dr. Antonella Papa is a Senior Research Fellow in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Monash University's Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Her research focuses on elucidating the role of the PTEN tumor suppressor and PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathways in cancer progression, particularly in breast and brain cancers. She has pioneered mouse models to investigate PTEN loss-driven oncogenesis and developed pre-clinical therapies targeting these pathways. Papa completed her PhD at the University of Bologna (Italy) and postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School.

• Education: PhD in Cellular Biology and Physiology, University of Bologna (Italy)
• Postdoctoral Training: Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA (2008–2014)

Research Interests: Her lab combines in vitro and in vivo studies to understand how PTEN dysfunction leads to uncontrolled cell growth. Key areas include identifying therapeutic targets for PTEN-associated cancers and optimizing combination therapies. Recent work includes studies on Alpelisib-resistant breast cancers and drug resistance mechanisms.

Publications: Over 30 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Cell, Cancer Discovery, and EMBO Molecular Medicine, focusing on oncogenic pathways, therapeutic strategies, and PTEN's molecular mechanisms. Recent studies highlight advancements in targeted therapies and biomarker discovery.

• Grants: NHMRC-funded projects on PTEN's role in cancer suppression (2016–2020)
• Collaborations: Multi-institutional projects with Cabrini Hospital and international labs

Labs/Teams: Heads the Papa Lab at Monash, focused on translational cancer research with a pipeline from molecular mechanisms to clinical applications.