A top researcher in the field of cancer biology, Dr. Christina Towers graduated from the University of Miami in 2009 with a B.S. in biology and a minor in chemistry. In 2021, she joined The Salk Institute’s Cancer Center to continue her long-term goal in improving the treatment options for cancer patients.
Prior to joining Salk, Towers attended the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus where she was a postdoctoral fellow. She holds numerous awards including the Outstanding Dissertation Award for her Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Colorado, the Pathway to Independence Award, the Cancer League of Colorado Pilot Award, and the American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship, along with many others.
A&S News connected with Towers to learn more about her research and her academic path at UM.
A&S NEWS: When you first enrolled at UM as a marine biology major, your seasickness ended up leading you into the lab. How important was it for you to continue your passion in biology?
TOWERS: I fell in love with marine biology in 2nd grade, so I was devastated when I realized marine biology was not a good option for me. I also quickly learned, after shadowing physicians in the ER at the UM hospital, that I did not have the heart to see patients (as I found many of their stories too sad to bear). Dr. Mike Gaines was the first person to plant the seed that I might enjoy basic science research, and without his help I would have never been able to land my first research experience in Dr. Bonnie Blomberg’s lab in immunology at the medical campus.
I really owe everything to Dr. Gaines because I fell in love with research during that experience. Without his guidance I would have never gone on to apply for summer research programs or graduate school.
A&S NEWS: Can you tell us a bit about your research?
TOWERS: I am an assistant professor at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA, and I just started my own lab about eight months ago. We are interested in how cancer cells adapt and change after therapy, especially therapies that target cancer cell metabolism.
One metabolic process that we study is the cellular recycling process known as autophagy. Many cancer cells are especially dependent on this recycling process to maintain nutrients in an otherwise harsh tumor environment. The ability to recycle their own damaged material to create nutrients provides a growth advantage to cancer cells that can do a lot of autophagy. Our goal is to find ways to block autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells to decrease tumor growth and increase patient survival.
Cancer cells are extremely cunning, and we have shown that cancer cells that seem to be dependent on autophagy can hijack other processes to compensate when this core metabolic process is blocked. In our lab we are studying these processes using different scientific methods to understand why some cells are dependent on autophagy, but others can re-wire to use other processes to survive.
A&S NEWS: You received a 5-year, NIH Pathway to Independence Award from the National Cancer Institute. How has this award assisted in fulfilling your research goals?
TOWERS: This is a transition award that provided funding for me to start my own lab. I believe this award contributed to my success on the job market and helped me be a competitive applicant. The funds themselves are also helpful as they allow me to hire more people and launch more experiments to study autophagy in cancer cells.
A&S NEWS: Who are your mentors?
TOWERS: I am very fortunate to have had amazing mentors throughout my career. Both my Ph.D. mentor, Dr. Heide Ford, and my post-doc mentor, Dr. Andrew Thorburn, played an instrumental role in shaping who I am as a scientist as well as a mentor myself.
They also were important in helping me network in my scientific field. This was key when I was applying for academic positions to start my own lab. Even though I am now an assistant professor and mentor many people myself, I still have mentors that I call upon for advice, both scientific and career advice. I believe the key to a successful career in science is having great mentors you can trust.
A&S NEWS: What advice do you have for young women today who are interested in pursuing careers in biology or other sciences?
TOWERS: I recommend that students spend as much time in the lab as possible. When I was an undergrad at UM, I arranged to have all my classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I could spend full days in the lab Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
The hands-on experience is critical as you think about applying for graduate programs. But the biggest piece of advice I can offer is to find great mentors. These people can help you pursue your dreams in science.
Finally, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t have it all. You don’t have to choose between your career and other passions you might have, whether that be traveling, having a family, building a business, etc. If you work hard at it, ask for help when you need it, and follow your passions, I really believe you can have it all!
