Mary J.C. Hendrix, PhD, professor of pediatrics, stimulates collaboration in her laboratory working to identify cancer metastasis causing genes as well as serving as the president and scientific director of the Children’s Memorial Research Center. Her lab’s major scientific goals are to define important structure/function relationships, which provide the biological basis for new therapeutic strategies. Recent studies have generated molecular classification(s) of specific tumors and have provided new prognostic markers and novel targets for therapeutic intervention. In addition, these studies have identified certain genes that are dysregulated during cancer progression and may also be aberrant during development, resulting in birth defects. Current research activities focus on elucidating how regulatory molecules and phenotype control genes govern cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions, epithelial/mesenchymal transitions, and motility. Specific projects include signal transduction events initiated by cell adhesion molecules and growth factors; factors regulating interconversion of the tumor cell phenotype; novel three-dimensional analysis of cellular invasion through extracellular matrices; regulation of matrix metalloproteinases by tumor and stromal cell interactions; tumor angiogenesis and vasculogenesis; and the epigenetic role of the microenvironment in determining cell fate and tumor cell plasticity.

Dr. Hendrix is also the recipient of a $2 million Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute (IRMI) grant that awards medical research centers funding for advancement of disease treatment and cures. Dr. Hendrix’s award includes support for her work in utilizing human stem cells to potentially reverse disease progression of malignant tumors, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, and epilepsy. 

Her leadership credits include membership on the Executive Board of the Center for Genetic Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, editorial activities for 13 different medical journals and their boards, and service on numerous advisory and professional boards. Dr. Hendrix is the winner of the 2006 Distinguished Women in Medicine and Science Lecturer award from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Her funding credits include the Department of Defense and the National Cancer Institute.