Julie Ostrander

Julie Ostrander, PhD, serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She holds dual faculty appointments in the MS and PhD Programs in Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) and the Masonic Cancer Center, contributing to interdisciplinary cancer research and graduate education through the Ostrander Lab.

Her research program centers on molecular mechanisms driving therapy resistance in breast cancer, with particular emphasis on ER+ and basal-like subtypes. Key investigations include:

• Steroid receptor signaling dynamics (progesterone/estrogen receptors) in tumor progression
• Metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment
• Cancer stem cell biology and therapeutic targeting strategies
• Genetic drivers like CDH1 loss in invasive lobular carcinoma pathogenesis

Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals consistent focus on translational solutions for treatment-resistant disease. Her work integrates genomic, metabolic, and immunological approaches to address paclitaxel resistance, cholesterol metabolite-mediated tumor microenvironment interactions, and oncolytic virotherapy. Notable themes include CREB5's role in basal-like breast cancer, HSD3B1 genotype-phenotype correlations, and neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles promoting EMT/stemness.

Dr. Ostrander leads the Ostrander Lab, which develops precision therapeutic approaches targeting molecular vulnerabilities in resistant breast cancer subtypes, with ongoing work on riluzole-based metabolic treatments and adenovirus/orthoreovirus platforms for stem cell eradication.