Faculty Profile

Jennifer DeLuca

September 2009

An assistant professor of biochemistry at Colorado State University, Jennifer DeLuca is making quite an impression on the scientific community. DeLuca recently was awarded one of 17 2009 Pew Scholars in biomedical sciences. Pew scholars are early-career scientists who display outstanding promise in advancing research about human health. DeLuca was the only Colorado biomedical scholar named in 2009 by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

DeLuca will receive a $240,000 grant for four years for her research into how cells divide, a process known as mitosis. If cells don’t divide properly, or there are too many or too few chromosomes, which carry all DNA, the result can be the initiation of cancer and the formation of birth defects.

"We try in our laboratory to identify proteins that drive the segregation process," DeLuca said. "If we can find the proteins that are responsible for chromosome segregation, new targets for cancer therapeutics can be identified. Tumors are made up of rapidly dividing cells, so if you want to kill off a tumor, targeting mitotic cells is a good place to start. This is how many current chemotherapeutics work, but unfortunately they can also affect other cellular processes, leading to severe side effects."

"Not only are we interested in mitosis from a basic science standpoint, but we also are driven by the hope we can identify new targets for rational anti-cancer drug design," she said.

I am very honored to be selected as a Pew Scholar,” DeLuca said. “It is wonderful that this organization values creative and concept-driven research, which gives young scientists the opportunity to pursue innovative projects that are not routinely funded through traditional grants. I am grateful to be part of the Pew Scholar community and excited to have the chance to interact with such an inspiring group of scientists." 

DeLuca came to Colorado State in 2007 as an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She obtained her doctorate in 200 from the University of California, Santa Barbara. DeLuca completed her postdoctoral work in cell biology and microscopy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.