Lucy Godley,MD,Ph.D Elected to ASCI
December 16, 2011
Lucy Godley, MD,Ph.D , Associate Professor of Medicine (Section of Hematology/Oncology ) has been elected to the prestigious American Society of Clinical Investigation ( ASCI). This honor recognizes Dr. Godley’s important contributions as a leader in cancer biology research particularly in the fields of DNA methylation and hematopoietic malignancies.
Dr. Godley’s scientific work focuses on the molecular mechanisms that drive tumorigenesis, focusing on her clinical specialization, the hematopoietic malignancies. Dr. Godley’s major contribution has been to elucidate the role of DNMT3B in epigenetic dysregulation in human cancers. She discovered universal aberrant splicing of DNMT3B, leading to the hypothesis that DNA methylation is disrupted in cancers by the production of truncated DNMT3B isoforms. Dr. Godley has tested this hypothesis using transgenic mice that express DNMT3B7, one of the truncated isoforms found commonly in cancers. Dr. Godley observed that disruption of Dnmt3b function, either by DNMT3B7 expression or through Dnmt3b-deficiency, accelerates Myc-induced tumorigenesis and alters DNA methylation patterns. Dr. Godley’s studies of pediatric neuroblastoma, an N-MYC-driven tumor, show a strong relationship between DNMT3B isoform expression and phenotype, consistent with the model that tumors driven by MYC/MYC family members are particularly susceptible to epigenetic modifications. In the past year, Dr. Godley has expanded her focus to include examination of how 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, the newly discovered sixth DNA base, regulates differentiation and leukemogenesis. Her laboratory optimized a robust mass spectrometry assay that allows the simultaneous determination of cytosine, 5-methylcytosine, and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels. In addition, she collaborated with Dr. Chuan He to develop a chemical labeling method that facilitates the identification of DNA loci enriched in 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. These assays have been adopted by the field, resulting in several high-profile publications within the past year. The ability to detect modified cytosine in isolated genomic DNA is revolutionizing our understanding of the function of these epigenetic alterations. Dr. Godley has also taken advantage of her unique clinic population to make discoveries from rare patients. She led a study to optimize the care of patients with therapy-related myeloid neoplasms, setting a clinical standard of care for these patients. In addition, Dr. Godley has defined novel RUNX1 mutations in several families with familial platelet disorder, work that is poised to yield new standards for the evaluation of matched related allogeneic stem cell donors.
Dr. Godley takes an active role in mentoring and developing the next generation of physician scientists. She was co-Director of the Physician Scientist Development Program, and she is a longstanding steering committee member of the Medical Scientist Training Program . She is a role model for physician scientists in training, especially women.
The ASCI , established in 1908, is one of the nation's oldest and most respected medical honor societies. The ASCI comprises more than 2,800 physician-scientists from all medical specialties elected to the Society for their outstanding records of scholarly achievement in biomedical research. The ASCI represents active physician-scientists who are at the bedside, at the research bench, and at the blackboard. Many of its senior members are widely recognized leaders in academic medicine. The ASCI is dedicated to the advancement of research that extends the understanding and improves the treatment of human diseases, and members are committed to mentoring future generations of physician-scientists. The ASCI considers the nominations of several hundred physician-scientists from the United States and abroad each year and elects up to 80 new members each year for their significant research accomplishments. Because members must be 45 years of age or younger at the time of their election, membership reflects accomplishments by its members relatively early in their careers.