Dec 5, 2006 -- Sumanta Goswami, PhD, a newly appointed biology professor at Yeshiva College (YC), has been awarded a $125,000 grant to do important research in the field of breast cancer. Dr. Goswami’s project, “Identification and Characterization of Invasive and Drug Resistant Breast Cancer Cells,” was awarded a 2007 Young Investigator Grant from Breast Cancer Alliance. He recently presented his research at the Third Tumor Progressive and Therapeutic Resistance conference in Baltimore, MD, where he won a prize for one of the best abstracts submitted at the conference. “Metastasis and drug resistance are the most important challenges faced by the cancer clinic,” explained Dr. Goswami. “We have recently discovered that the invasive cells are resistant to the common cancer drugs. Invasive cells can potentially invade the blood and lymphatic vessels and become secondary tumors in distant organs.” His current model examines the nature of metastatic tumors that grow in the breast where the environment itself creates cells that are resistant to common cancer drugs. “This is a totally new finding,” said Dr. Goswami. His grant from the Breast Cancer Alliance will enable him to further explore this important finding. “Dr. Goswami serves as another example of excellence in the college’s faculty,” said YC Dean David Srolovitz. “I am gratified that his important work on breast cancer cells is receiving the recognition that it deserves.” Dr. Goswami serves as assistant professor of anatomy and structural biology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and as assistant professor in YC’s biology department. He is the first person to have a joint appointment at both institutions. Dr. Goswami is in the process of setting up laboratories at Yeshiva College and looks forward to involving students in his cutting-edge breast cancer research.