Laurie Littlepage is the Campbell Family Associate Professor of Cancer Research in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, affiliated with the Mike and Josie Harper Cancer Research Institute. She joined Notre Dame in 2012 as Campbell Family Assistant Professor of Cancer Research, promoted to associate professor in 2020. Prior to this, she was an Associate Specialist (2009-2012) and postdoctoral fellow (2003-2009) at the University of California, San Francisco in the laboratory of Zena Werb. Littlepage earned her Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from Harvard University in 2003 and dual B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995. Her research program examines the roles of epithelium and stroma/microenvironment in cancer progression and normal mammary gland and prostate development. Utilizing mouse models, human xenografts, cell and organotypic cultures, and systems biology, she investigates genes driving epithelial plasticity, progenitor maintenance, metabolism, genomic integrity, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Major projects focus on the oncogene ZNF217 promoting progenitor phenotypes, metastasis, and chemoresistance; MMP3/Stromelysin-1 inducing genomic instability and centrosome amplification; matrix metalloproteinases in neuroendocrine prostate carcinogenesis; and the CXCL5/CXCR2 axis in bone metastasis.

Key publications include "Rac1b and reactive oxygen species mediate MMP-3-induced EMT and genomic instability" (Nature, 2005), "GATA-3 links tumor differentiation and dissemination in a luminal breast cancer model" (Cancer Cell, 2008), "Matrix metalloproteinases contribute distinct roles in neuroendocrine prostate carcinogenesis, metastasis, and angiogenesis progression" (Cancer Research, 2010), "Cancer-associated fibroblast exosomes regulate survival and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells" (Oncogene, 2017), and "The CXCL5/CXCR2 axis is sufficient to promote breast cancer colonization during bone metastasis" (Nature Communications, 2019). Littlepage has received the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2022), METAvivor Translational Research Award for "Targeting Endocrine Therapy Resistance in Bone Metastasis" (2022), CTSI Young Investigator Award (2014), American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship (2006-2010), Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (2003-2006), and NSF Predoctoral Fellowship (1997-2000). She teaches courses such as CHEM 60531: Hallmarks of Cancer and Therapy and CHEM 30342: Intermediary Metabolism, and serves on the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation Board of Directors.

Professional Email: laurie.littlepage@nd.edu