Christina Towers

Christina Towers, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, holding the Richard Heyman and Anne Daigle Endowed Developmental Chair. Her research focuses on understanding how cancer cells adapt to autophagy inhibition and exploit alternative pathways for survival. She leads the Towers Lab, dedicated to uncovering novel therapeutic strategies to combat cancer recurrence and improve patient outcomes.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science, University of Miami
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Colorado
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Colorado

Research Interests: Towers employs cutting-edge techniques like CRISPR-Cas9, optogenetics, and organoid models to study cellular recycling mechanisms (e.g., autophagy and mitochondrial quality control). Her lab investigates how cancer cells circumvent therapeutic blockades and identify compensatory pathways for targeted therapies. Key areas include mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs), NRF2 signaling, and metabolic adaptations.

Awards & Honors:

• NIH New Innovator Award (2023)
• V Foundation Grant for Cancer Research (2023)
• Science Diversity Leadership Award (2023)
• Pew-Stewart Scholar for Cancer Research (2022)
• Multiple NIH & foundation grants

Lab Philosophy: The lab emphasizes curiosity-driven research, diversity in mentorship, and rigorous experimentation. Trainees are encouraged to drive independent projects and pursue careers in science. The lab maintains an inclusive culture with transparent communication and collaborative training.

Advising & Grants: Towers mentors a diverse team of postdocs, PhD students, and technicians. Notable trainees include Anvita Komarla (PhD candidate) and Suzanne Dufresne (Postdoc). Her funding includes over $2.85 million NIH New Innovator Award and $1 million BioMed Realty grant to support recruitment and research infrastructure.

Labs/Teams: The Towers Lab collaborates with local clinicians to translate findings into therapies. Ongoing projects focus on optogenetic autophagy manipulation, 3D organoid models, and mitochondrial quality control studies.