Three Sanford Burnham Prebys faculty receive promotions - Sanford Burnham Prebys
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Three Sanford Burnham Prebys faculty receive promotions

AuthorMiles Martin
Date

June 30, 2022

Sanford Burnham Prebys is proud to announce the promotion of three of our faculty from assistant to associate professor. 

The promoted faculty, all from the Institute’s NCI-designated Cancer Center, include Ani Deshpande, PhD, Brooke Emerling, PhD and Charles Spruck, PhD

Ani Deshpande, PhD

Deshpande studies developmental processes in stem cells that get hijacked by cancer, focusing specifically on acute myeloid leukemia, one of the most common types of blood cancer. Earlier last year, Deshpande published a study with researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealing that CRISPR gene editing can sometimes favor cells with cancer mutations, encouraging a cautious approach when using CRISPR therapies for certain cancers

Deshpande joined the Institute in 2015. Prior to that, he held positions at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School.

Brooke Emerling, PhD

Emerling studies the metabolism of cancer cells, specifically how certain signaling proteins can contribute to the uninhibited growth typical of tumors. Emerling recently received a $2.3 million grant from the NIH to continue her work over the next four years.

Emerling joined the faculty at Sanford Burnham Prebys in 2016. Prior to that, she held positions at Weill Cornell Medicine and Harvard Medical School.

Charles Spruck, PhD 

Spruck develops new, effective, nontoxic treatments for patients with advanced cancers. Specifically, his recent studies have focused on the potential to treat cancer with viral mimicry, which tricks the body into thinking it has a viral infection, stimulating immune responses that can help the body fight cancer and improve the effects of other treatments. 

Spruck joined the Institute in 2010. Prior to that, he held positions at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and Scripps Research.