Marja T. Nevalainen

Marja T. Nevalainen serves as Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology at Thomas Jefferson University's College of Life Sciences. Her research laboratory focuses on prostate cancer therapy development, addressing the critical challenge of treatment resistance in this most common non-skin cancer among Western men (over 3 million U.S. cases).

Her work investigates molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to hormone therapy and radiation therapy, with specialized emphasis on Jak-Stat5 signaling pathways. The laboratory aims to develop secondary therapies for recurrent prostate cancer following initial treatment failure, targeting druggable pathways like Stat5-induced androgen receptor transcription. Research spans epigenomic profiling, imaging-based radiation sensitivity assessment, and biomarker discovery for both prostate and breast cancers.

Recent publications reveal strong thematic continuity in prostate cancer molecular targeting, with emerging work on breast cancer recurrence biomarkers. Key areas include Stat5 inhibitor development, liquid biopsy applications, radiation sensitivity genomics, and AR signaling modulation. The breadth demonstrates translational focus from basic mechanisms to clinical applications.

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Dr. Nevalainen leads an active research laboratory dedicated to prostate cancer therapeutics at Thomas Jefferson University, with documented work on therapy resistance mechanisms and secondary treatment strategies. Laboratory resources and publications are accessible through her Research Laboratory Site and SKMC Profile.