Tirzah Braz Petta

Tirzah Braz Petta is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Cancer Biology at the University of Southern California. She serves as Director of the Master's in Translational Biotechnology program, focusing on bridging laboratory research with clinical applications in cancer diagnostics and therapy.

• Role: Assistant Professor of Clinical Cancer Biology
• Affiliation: University of Southern California
• Leadership: Director of Master's in Translational Biotechnology

Dr. Petta's research spans cancer biology, genomics, and molecular diagnostics. Her work includes investigating pathogenic genomic variants through machine learning, molecular features of uterine leiomyosarcoma, mechanisms of PARPi resistance in BRCA1-deficient ovarian cancer, and prognostic implications of p53 abnormalities. She also explores FOXL2 mutations in sex cord-stromal tumors and DNA repair mechanisms in xeroderma pigmentosum.

Her recent publications highlight trends in precision oncology, multi-omics integration, and translational applications of bioinformatics. These studies address ovarian cancer subtypes, immunoproteasome subunits in tumors, and the epidemiology of pediatric malignant ovarian tumors. Earlier works examine DNA polymerase functions and genotoxicity in cellular systems.

Dr. Petta's academic contributions emphasize clinical translational research, with a focus on molecular drivers of cancer progression and response to therapy. She maintains active participation in peer-reviewed publications and collaborates across disciplines including genetics, pathology, and computational biology.