Michael Lero

Background

About Michael Lero

I am a PhD student with a medical background and a strong interest in translational research. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Chan Medical School. I joined the Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology program to study breast cancer metastasis in the lab of Dr. Leslie Shaw. My research focuses on determining the roles of the insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor in breast cancer progression. In my project, I utilize cell culture, genome editing, proteomics, and mouse modeling. Previously, I earned a BS in Biology from Gordon College before working at Adeptrix Corp, helping to optimize a novel mass-spectrometry based protein quantification technique. I left Adeptrix to go to medical school at UMass Chan, where I studied for three semesters before discovering that research was a better fit for my intellectual curiosity. I then worked at Elucida Research, studying the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on lipid oxidation and membrane structure, before transitioning to the PhD program at UMass Chan in the fall of 2019. My diverse research experiences and medical background have proven helpful during my graduate studies by enabling me to consider both the molecular and systemic aspects of health and disease. After completion of my PhD, I plan to pursue a career in industry; working as a member of a team to develop treatments to manage and cure human diseases.