Joseph Jerry

Professor Joseph Jerry is affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. He serves as Science Director at the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute and Co-Director at the Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research.

• Education:
  • M.S., Purdue University
  • Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
  • Postdoctoral Training: Jackson Laboratory, Baylor College of Medicine

Research Interests: Professor Jerry's work focuses on the p53 tumor suppressor gene, its role in breast cancer susceptibility, and the interplay between genetic modifiers and hormonal/environmental factors. His lab investigates:

• Estrogen receptor signaling in DNA damage and repair
• Genetic variation in homology-directed repair pathways
• Impact of endocrine disruptors on mammary gland development
• Translational studies using primary breast epithelial cells from human cohorts
• Role of Notch signaling in stem cell population regulation
• Mechanisms linking parity to reduced cancer risk

Article Trends: Recent work emphasizes environmental chemical exposures (phthalates, parabens, benzophenones), their effects on estrogen receptor-dependent pathways, and nanogel-based drug delivery systems. Publications highlight mouse models for studying gene-environment interactions and interindividual variation in responses to carcinogens.

Labs & Collaborations: Co-leads the Rays of Hope Breast Research Registry, collecting samples from over 1,000 women. Collaborates with Baystate Medical Center and utilizes rodent models for mechanistic studies.