Campus News

Genetics professor to investigate breast cancer mortality disparities

Melissa Davis, assistant professor of genetics in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, received $385,688 from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the disparities of breast cancer mortality in African-Americans compared to European Americans.

The study will determine if DARC or Duffy antigen/chemokine receptor tumor expression is associated with ancestry and immune response. The results will have implications for developing prognostic and therapeutic targets for personalized medicine.