Bret A. Hassel

Bret A. Hassel is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, serving as Assistant Director for Training & Education at the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. He directs the Graduate Program in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Nathan Schnaper Intern Program in Translational Cancer Research, with additional leadership in the UMB CURE Scholars Program.

His educational background includes a B.S. from the University of Miami, a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University (1989), and postdoctoral training at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Dr. Hassel's research centers on RNase-L, an endonuclease critical for host defense against pathogens and suppression of uncontrolled cell proliferation. His laboratory pioneered RNase-L cloning and discovered its roles in antiviral/antibacterial immunity, tumor suppression, and cytoskeletal barrier function. Key mechanisms include RNase-L-mediated mRNA turnover, interactions with RNA-binding proteins like TTP, and catalytic-independent structural roles in tight junction regulation. His work bridges molecular mechanisms to disease models like colitis-associated cancer.

Analysis of his publications reveals sustained focus on RNase-L across immunology, microbiology, and oncology, with recent work emphasizing its dual catalytic/structural functions in host-threat responses and therapeutic potential for immune disorders and cancer.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Teacher of the Year, Graduate Program in Life Sciences (2013)
• PROMISE AGEP Maryland Transformation Faculty Diversity Award (2016)

Dr. Hassel has mentored 33 trainees directly and served on 60+ thesis committees. He leads NIH-funded initiatives including the Nathan Schnaper Intern Program, UMB CURE Scholars Program (as Financial Sustainability Co-Chair), and co-PI roles on NIGMS and NIAID training grants. His outreach spans partnerships with Morgan State University (BUILD/ASCEND, MBRS RISE), UMBC (Pre-Marc-U-STARs, Meyerhoff Scholars), and Towson University (Bridges to the Doctorate), plus high school programs on cancer careers.

His laboratory investigates RNase-L's molecular interactions in host defense, with current projects identifying cytoskeletal contacts and pathogen-induced disruption mechanisms to develop broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapies and barrier dysfunction treatments.