Paola Marcato

Paola Marcato is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Dalhousie University, affiliated with the Nova Scotia Health and the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute. Her research focuses on breast cancer stem cells, drug resistance mechanisms, and precision medicine approaches. She investigates biomarkers, cancer progression, and the role of non-coding RNA and epigenetic modifications using cell lines, xenograft models, and patient datasets. Dr. Marcato holds the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation-Atlantic Region Endowed Chair in Breast Cancer Research and is recruiting graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Her research interests include:

• Cancer stem cell biology
• Therapeutic resistance and targeted therapies
• Molecular diagnostics and biomarkers
• Non-coding RNA regulation

Key publications highlight advancements in understanding ALDH1A3's role in breast cancer, drug resistance pathways, and lncRNA-miRNA interactions. Dr. Marcato collaborates on projects involving genome-wide screens, metabolomics, and immunology, contributing to translational oncology efforts.

Awards include the endowed chair position, and she mentors a team of graduate students and postdocs. Her work bridges basic science and clinical applications, aiming to improve breast cancer treatment outcomes.