Evette S. Radisky

Evette S. Radisky, Ph.D., is a Professor of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Jacksonville, Florida. She serves as a Consultant in the Department of Cancer Biology, focusing on protease biology and cancer metastasis mechanisms. Her work integrates structural biology, enzymology, and protein engineering to develop targeted cancer therapies.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship: Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley
• Ph.D. in Chemistry: University of Utah
• B.S. in Chemistry: University of Utah

Research Interests:

Dr. Radisky’s research centers on proteases critical for tumor invasion and metastasis, including mesotrypsin, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and serine protease inhibitors like SPINK1. Her lab uses X-ray crystallography, cell culture models, and directed evolution to engineer selective protease inhibitors. Key focus areas include:

• Mesotrypsin’s role in pancreatic and prostate cancers
• Engineering TIMP-based therapies for triple-negative breast cancer
• MMP-9’s role in breast cancer metastasis
• SPINK1’s dual role in pancreatitis and cancer progression

Grants & Projects:

• NIH-funded projects targeting selective protease inhibition (e.g., trypsins, MMPs)
• Studies on TIMP engineering and lung fibrosis mechanisms

Labs/Teams:

She leads the Proteases in Cancer Laboratory, focusing on structural biology, enzyme kinetics, and translational cancer therapeutics.