Bridget S. Wilson, PhD

Director, Hematologic Malignancies Program
UNM Cancer Center

Professor
Department of Pathology

Ph.D.
University of New Mexico

Fellowship
University of San Diego, Division of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Dept of Pathology. My mentors at UCSD were Dr. George Palade, a Nobel Laureate, and Dr. Marilyn Farquhar, a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

What is your research focus (interests and expertise)? I am a cell biologist, so my laboratory works at the cellular and molecular level to try to understand abnormal signaling in carcinogenesis. We work on two different projects ‑ one in pre-B acute lymphocytic leukemia and one in breast and endometrial cancer ‑ to shed light on the processes that drive cancer cells to proliferate and to avoid cell death induced by therapies.

Why did you choose this focus? We have some unique contributions and skills to bring to the cancer field, including the use of our innovative electron microscopy and live cell imaging techniques. Using these techniques, we can capture the nanoscale behavior of cell signaling molecule, with a special emphasis on differences during normal and abnormal signaling.

Why did you choose to conduct research at the UNM Cancer Center? In other words, what makes the UNM Cancer Center stick out in your mind as a premier research institute? The environment at the UNM Cancer Center fosters interdisciplinary interactions. This has allowed us to build teams of clinicians, scientists, computer and imaging specialists ‑ and even mathematicians ‑ to help us develop comprehensive ways to think about the cancer process. Our proximity to two national laboratories (Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory) has helped us to build partnerships that utilize the fabulous computing capabilities and scientific expertise there.

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Visit Dr. Wilson’s research web site:

Visit the Cell Pathology Laboratory web site

Visit the New Mexico Center for Spatiotemporal Modeling web site