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Jacquelyn Bower

Jacquelyn Bower, PhD, is a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member researching therapeutic strategies for the most common type of primary malignant intraocular tumors, uveal melanoma.

PhD
Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Breast Cancer

Area of Interest

The Bower Lab’s research interests are focused on the identification of potential therapeutic strategies for the most common type of primary malignant intraocular tumors, uveal melanoma (UVM). UVM is particularly suited for a genetic-based therapeutic approach in that 80-90% of tumors exhibit a unique stepwise genetic mutation pattern, beginning with a single mutation in either the GNAQ or GNA11 protein that results in the continuous activation of cell proliferation pathways, which eventually results in metastases in approximately 50% of patients.

She is currently in the pre-clinical phase of testing her lead candidate therapeutic drug and is comparing multiple formulations to identify the most promising path forward towards a treatment for uveal melanoma. She hopes to exploit the unique molecular and cellular defects present in these tumors in order to translate her laboratory’s basic research findings into new treatment strategies and candidate therapeutics for uveal melanoma.

Find publications on PubMed

Awards and Honors

  • Career Development Award – Viral Vector Development Category, American Society for Cell and Gene Therapy, 2022
  • IBM Junior Faculty Career Development Award, UNC Office of the Provost, 2021
  • Publication Grant, UNC University Research Council, 2017
  • Clinical Research Loan Repayment Award, NIH National Cancer Institute, 2014-2016
  • Postdoctoral Award for Research Excellence, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2010
  • Research Travel Award, Genetics and Environmental Mutagenesis Society, 2008
  • Research Excellence Award, UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 2008
  • Environmental Pathology Postdoctoral Training Fellowship, 2006-2008
  • Graduate Research Competition Winner, Sigma Xi, 2005
  • Teaching Award, West Virginia University Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2005
  • Van Liere Convocation Research Award, West Virginia University, 2004
  • Graduate Research Award, West Virginia University Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2003
  • Fellowship, Oak Ridge Institute for Science & Education, 2002
  • Regular Fellowship, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2001-2006
  • University of Notre Dame Dean’s Honor List, 2001
  • Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation, 2000
  • Valedictorian, Union High School, 1997
Headshot of Jacquelyn Bower.