Rate My Professor Susan Waltz

Susan E. Waltz, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where she also serves as Director of the Graduate Program in Cancer and Cell Biology since 2018 and Associate Director for Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in 1994 and a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry from Youngstown State University in 1989. Her postdoctoral training focused on growth factors and receptor tyrosine kinases in human disease at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, completed in 1997. Dr. Waltz began her faculty career as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Biology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation from 1997 to 2003. She advanced to Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine from 2003 to 2008, concurrently directing the Oncology Research Program from 2005 to 2008 and serving as Interim Scientific Director of the University of Cincinnati Barrett Cancer Center from 2007 to 2009. Since 2008, she has held her professorship in Cancer Biology and has been a faculty mentor in graduate programs including Cancer and Cell Biology, Molecular and Developmental Biology, Systems Biology, and Physician Scientist Training Programs.

Dr. Waltz's research investigates molecular mechanisms by which cell-surface receptor tyrosine kinases and growth factors regulate cancer growth, metastasis, and inflammation, with a focus on receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, tumor microenvironment, breast and prostate cancer, stem cell biology, macrophages and tumorigenesis, and therapeutic resistance. Key contributions highlight the Ron receptor tyrosine kinase's overexpression inducing aggressive, metastatic breast cancers; its regulation of prostate cancer growth via tumor angiogenesis; and its role in modulating macrophage cytokine and chemokine production during acute tissue injury. Her laboratory employs in vivo gene-targeted murine models, primary cell isolations, and orthotopic transplantation models to study Ron signaling pathways, positioning it as a novel therapeutic target. Awards include the Basil O’Connor Award from March of Dimes (1999-2001), Scientist Development Award from the American Heart Association (1999-2002), and National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellowship (1996-1997). Representative publications are 'RON-augmented cholesterol biosynthesis in breast cancer metastatic progression and recurrence' (Oncogene, 2023), 'Macrophage-mediated RON signaling supports breast cancer growth and progression through modulation of IL-35' (Oncogene, 2022), 'Prostate tumor RON receptor signaling mediates macrophage recruitment to drive androgen deprivation therapy resistance through Gas6-mediated Axl and RON signaling' (The Prostate, 2022), and 'An Introduction and Overview of RON Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling' (Genes, 2023).