Mario Shields

Mario Shields is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University. His research focuses on pancreatic disease mechanisms, particularly pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis, as part of the Oncogenic Drivers and Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis research program.

Dr. Shields' educational background includes:

• BS and MPhil from University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
• PhD from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
• Postdoctoral training in Cancer Biology at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Dr. Shields leads the Mario A. Shields Research Lab, which investigates the mechanisms of development and progression of diseases affecting the exocrine pancreas. His laboratory focuses on understanding how G-protein signaling (particularly Galpha13) and cell polarity (particularly Par3) contribute to pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis. His team demonstrated that pancreas-specific deletion of Galpha13 promotes tumor development in mouse models and they're investigating how this regulates tumor metabolism and inflammation. They also showed that deletion of Par3 promotes pancreas tissue injury and delays regeneration, with ongoing research on how Par3 regulates tumor development and cellular plasticity.

Dr. Shields' research has significantly contributed to understanding pancreatic cancer mechanisms, with particular emphasis on epithelial-mesenchymal transition, collagen-rich tumor microenvironment, and signaling pathways in pancreatic tumorigenesis. His work spans basic molecular mechanisms to potential therapeutic applications, with recent publications focusing on combination therapies and immunotherapy approaches.

Dr. Shields has mentored numerous students and collaborated extensively with researchers at Stony Brook and beyond. His laboratory is actively investigating novel therapeutic targets and approaches for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Dr. Shields' laboratory, the Mario A. Shields Research Lab, is housed in the Basic Science Tower at Stony Brook Medicine, where they conduct cutting-edge research on pancreatic cancer mechanisms using both in vitro and in vivo models.