Rena S. Lapidus

Rena S. Lapidus, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She serves as the Director of the Translational Laboratory Shared Service (TLSS) at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC), where she also holds the positions of Project Coordinator of the Translational Working Group and Assistant Director of the UMGCCC Shared Services. With over 23 years of experience spanning both industry and academia, Dr. Lapidus brings extensive expertise in cancer drug development and translational research.

Dr. Lapidus earned her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Boston University, followed by a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her postdoctoral training at The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center. Her career includes 12 years in the pharmaceutical industry working on small molecule drug development, followed by 11 years leading the TLSS at UMGCCC.

Dr. Lapidus's research focuses on translating novel drugs from bench to bedside through comprehensive preclinical testing. Her laboratory specializes in cancer drug development, particularly for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with expertise in translational research, pre-clinical studies, and in vivo cancer models. The TLSS under her direction conducts both in vitro studies (proliferation and cell death assays, IC50 generation, apoptotic assays, Western analysis) and in vivo studies (maximum tolerated dose studies, pharmacokinetic studies, cancer efficacy and pharmacodynamic studies). The laboratory has developed numerous novel flank, orthotopic and primary xenograft models to test novel compounds in cancer and possesses an umbrella Animal Use protocol approved for oncology studies.

Analysis of Dr. Lapidus's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on innovative therapeutic approaches for acute myeloid leukemia, particularly exploring combinations of pegcrisantaspase with venetoclax and other agents to overcome drug resistance. Her work also extends to pancreatic cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and breast cancer, with particular emphasis on metabolic targeting, epigenetic therapies, and biomarker development for treatment response prediction. A notable trend is her investigation of amino acid metabolism (particularly glutamine) as a therapeutic target in hematologic malignancies.

Dr. Lapidus has extensive experience mentoring researchers and collaborating on translational projects. Her laboratory serves as a critical resource for UMGCCC investigators seeking preclinical data to support grant applications and clinical trial development. The TLSS provides essential services including in vitro and in vivo testing of novel compounds, pharmacokinetic studies, and development of specialized cancer models.

The Translational Laboratory Shared Service under Dr. Lapidus's direction is equipped with the necessary tools to generate in vivo oncology data for preclinical investigators. The laboratory has particular expertise in developing and utilizing various xenograft models to test novel cancer therapeutics. Dr. Lapidus's unique background bridging industry drug development and academic research enables her to effectively translate scientific discoveries into clinically relevant applications.