Biology

Maria Cuevas

Associate Professor of Biology

Education

PhD, Boston University 1992
MS, Northwestern University 1985
B.S., Purdue University 1982

Positions

Associate Professor
Southwestern University
August 01, 2009 - present

Paideia Professor
Southwestern University
August 01, 2007 - May 01, 2010

Assistant Professor
Southwestern University
August 01, 2003 - August 01, 2009

Visiting Assistant Professor
Southwestern University
August 01, 2001 - August 01, 2003

Post doctoral fellow
Loyola University Medical Center
July 01, 1992 - October 01, 1994

Instructor
Loyola University Medical Center
August 01, 1993 - August 01, 1994

Instructor
Boston University
July 01, 1991 - August 01, 1992

Research Fellow
Monsanto Company
May 01, 1985 - August 01, 1986

Courses: Fall 2009

Paideia Seminar 3A
Intro to Independent Research

Research

My research program, tailored to leverage collective researcher capabilities at Southwestern, consists of 3 projects.

First, the tamoxifen project has been funded by a 3-year Merck grant (received in 2004) and 1.5 year JP Morgan Grant (received in 2007) that were awarded to the Chemistry and Biology department.The main objective of this project is to investigate the effect and cellular mechanism of 4-OH tamoxifen on several endometrial and one cervical cell line.

Second, the anthrapyrazole research project, in collaboration with Dr. Frank Guziec, has been funded by the Fleming Collaborative Research funds (2004-2006) and the JP Morgan grant. This project investigates the cytotoxic effect of anti-cancer drugs known as anthrapyrazoles on a variety of cancer cells from the female and male reproductive tract and determines if programmed cell death is the cellular mechanism involved. Dr. Guziec synthesizes these compounds, and I test their cytoxicities. This project has already generated a scientific manuscript accepted for scholarly publication.

Third, the claudin-3 project, in collaboration with Dr. Todd and Dr. Sheller has been funded by the Andrew Mellon Integrated Scholary Grant. This project investigates the function of claudin-3 tight junction in breast epithelial cells.

As a scientist I believe in a multi-technique approach. I, therefore, have used tissue culture, biochemical analysis and molecular biology techniques to answer the scientific questions at hand.


Professional Work



Publications

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

* = undergraduate author

Cuevas, M.E. and Seilheimer, K.* 2008. In vitro cytotoxic activity of anthrapyrazole analogues in human prosate (DU-145) and testicular (NETRA-2) carcinoma cells. Oncology Reports 20:239-244.

Cuevas, M.E., Collins, K. and Callard, G.V. 1993. Stage-related changes in steroid converting enzyme activities in Squalus testis: Synthesis of biologically active metabolites via 3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3 b -HSD) and 5alpha-reductase. Steroids 58:87-94.

Cuevas, M.E., Miller, W. and Callard, G.V. 1992. Sulfoconjugation of steroids and the vascular pathway communication in dogfish testis. J. Exp. Zool. 264:119-129.

Cuevas, M.E. and Callard, G.V. 1992. In vitro steroid secretion by staged-spermatocysts (Sertoli/germ cell units) of dogfish (Squalus acanthias) testis. Gen. Comp. Endo. 88:151-165.

Cuevas, M.E. and Callard, G.V. 1992. Androgen and progesterone receptors in shark (Squalus) testis: characteristics and stage-related distribution. Endocrinology 130(4):2173-2182.

RECENT ABSTRACTS AND PRESENTATIONS

*Denotes collaborative research with undergraduate:

Todd MC, Cuevas ME, Piana B* and Sheller RL. April 2009. Overexpression of claudin-3 tight junction protein in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-415 breast cancer cell lines. American Association for Cancer Research, Denver, CO.

*Seilheimer KC, Guziec FS and Cuevas ME. 2007. Cytotoxicity of anthrapyrazoles (AP-10 and AP-11) on human prostate cancer (DU-145) and testicular cancer (NETRA-2) in culture. Texas Academy of Science: Baylor University, Waco, TX

*Seilheimer KC, *Boet C, Guziec FS and Cuevas ME. 2007. Cytotoxicity of anthrapyrazoles in various reproductive cancer cell lines. AAAS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA

*Navaira E and Cuevas ME. 2007. In vitro effects of 4-OH tamoxifen and 17b-estradiol on the human cervical cell line HeLa. Texas Academy of Science: Baylor University, Waco, TX

*Einem T, *Boet C, Cuevas M and Foote-Zewail M. 2006. Effects of 4-OH tamoxifen on HEC 1B endometrial cancer cells. AAAS National Meeting, St. Louis, MO.

*Boet C and Cuevas ME. 2006. Effect of anthrapyrazoles 10 and 11 on human endometrial and mammary adenocarcinoma cells in culture.Texas Academy of Science: Lamar University, Beaumont, TX.

Honors & Awards

  • National Science Foundation Major Instrumentation Grant (2009-2012)
  • Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Scholarly Grant (2008-2009)
  • JP Morgan Grant (To the Dept. of Biology/Cellular/Molecular BiologyResearchers-2007-2009)
  • Sam Taylor Fellowship (2007)
  • MERCK-AAAS Science Research Grant (Chemistry/Biochemistry and Biology-2004-2007
  • Young Investigator Award, American Association for Clinical Chemistry (1992)
  • Sigma XI Science Award, Boston University Chapter (1991)
  • Graduate Research Award, Boston University (1991)
  • Endocrine Society Summer Fellowship Award (1988)
  • National Hispanic Scholarship Fund (1989)
  • National Consortium for Graduate Degrees in Engineering for Minorities Scholarship (1983-1985)