معرفی
Nancy Carrasco, M.D., is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She holds the Joe C. Davis Chair in Biomedical Science. Her research focuses on the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), its structural and functional properties, and its role in thyroid hormone biosynthesis, cancer treatment, and metabolic health. Her work integrates molecular biology, genetics, and translational medicine to address endocrine disorders and oncological challenges.
Key areas of investigation include NIS-mediated iodide transport mechanisms, the impact of environmental pollutants like perchlorate on thyroid function, and the development of NIS-based therapies for cancer and metabolic diseases. Carrasco’s studies also explore the physiological adaptations of the thyroid under nutritional stress and the role of metabolic pathways in obesity-related conditions.
Her research has advanced understanding of NIS mutations causing congenital iodide transport defects and pioneered the use of NIS as a therapeutic target in breast cancer and thyroid disorders. Collaborative projects include gene therapy approaches using AAV9 vectors and imaging techniques like SPECT/CT for NIS expression quantification.
Notable contributions include identifying NIS’s role in regulating cancer cell invasiveness, elucidating structural insights into NIS transport cycles via cryo-EM and computational modeling, and discovering metabolic adaptations in hypothyroid mice. Her work bridges basic science and clinical application, aiming to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for endocrine and oncological diseases.
