Joanna Phillips

Joanna Phillips is an Associate Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in the Departments of Pathology and Neurological Surgery. She serves as Director of the Brain Tumor Center Tissue Bank and Co-Director of the UCSF Brain Tumor SPORE Biorepository, focusing on improving brain tumor treatment through research and clinical expertise.

• Education:
  • MD/PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (2002)
  • Residency, Anatomic Pathology, University of Washington (2002–2004)
  • Clinical Fellowship, Pathology, UCSF (2004–2006)
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Anatomy, UCSF (2006–2008)

Research Interests center on the tumor microenvironment, particularly how extracellular matrix and immune cell interactions drive glioma development and therapeutic resistance. Her lab uses human tumor samples and modeling to identify mechanisms for improved patient outcomes.

Scientific Awards include the Excellence in Teaching Award (2015), Aspen Cancer Conference Fellowship (2010), and multiple recognitions from the American Association of Neuropathologists and the American Society for Investigative Pathology.

Publications span topics like 3D tumor heterogeneity, RNA splicing neoantigens, and microenvironmental influences on glioblastoma. Collaborative work highlights advancements in patient stratification and immunotherapy strategies.