Distinguished Professor, Department of Pathology
The Victor and Ruby Hansen Surface Endowed Professor in Cancer Cell Biology and Clinical Translation
Cancer Center – Member Cellular & Molecular Oncology Program & Associate Director for Education, Training and Mentoring
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Education
BS – Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts
PhD – Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles
Postdoctoral Training – European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
Business/Research Background
Dr. Angela Wandinger-Ness has been with the Department of Pathology as a faculty member with the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center since 1998. An expert in cell biology and protein biochemistry, Dr. Wandinger-Ness has been studying enzymes called GTPases for nearly 30 years. GTPases are molecular switches that control cell behavior, regulating how cells break down, organize, move around and attach to one another. They are the biological catalysis in cells and when their process grow awry, then cells proliferate uncontrollably. Current work is focused on advancing GTPases diagnostics and therapeutics to clinics.
Particular Knowledge and Skills
Dr. Wandinger-Ness has authored over 90 peer-reviewed articles and reviews; and has nine awarded patents. She is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, served as a Visiting Professor at the Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology in Dortmund, Germany, and a Research Ambassador for the German Academic Exchange Program. She is the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in research, innovation, and education. Most recently she was recognized as the 2019 Innovation Fellow by UNM Rainforest Innovations, the 2020 American Association for the Advancement of Science Lifetime Mentor, and the U.S. Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. She attributes her success to her abilities to communicate, engage with diverse people, and secure funding to an entrepreneurial spirit.