Amy R. Leslie

Biomedical researcher with four years' experience in cancer cell biology, with particular emphasis to prostate cancer. My present research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of therapeutic resistance against PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and next-generation antiandrogen therapies (NGATs) in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

[1] Leslie AR, Ning S, Armstrong CM, et al. IGFBP3 Promotes Resistance to Olaparib via Modulating EGFR Signaling in Advanced Prostate Cancer. iScience. 2024 (accepted)

[2] Schaaf ZA, Ning S, Leslie AR, et al. Therapeutic Resistance Models and Treatment Sequencing in Advanced Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(21):5273. Published 2023 Nov 3. doi:10.3390/cancers15215273

[3] D'Abronzo LS, Lombard AP, Ning S, Armstong CM, Leslie AR, Sharifi M, Schaaf ZA, Lou W, Gao AC. Wntless expression promotes lineage plasticity and is associated with neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Am J Clin Exp Urol. 2022 Oct 15;10(5):299-310. PMID: 36313205; PMCID: PMC9605943.

[4] Ning S, Liu C, Lou W, Yang JC, Lombard AP, D'Abronzo LS, Batra N, Yu AM, Leslie AR, Sharifi M, Evans CP, Gao AC. Bioengineered BERA-Wnt5a siRNA Targeting Wnt5a/FZD2 Signaling Suppresses Advanced Prostate Cancer Tumor Growth and Enhances Enzalutamide Treatment. Mol Cancer Ther. 2022 Oct 7;21(10):1594-1607. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-22-0216. PMID: 35930737; PMCID: PMC9547958.

[5] Ning S, Zhao J, Lombard AP, D'Abronzo LS, Leslie AR, Sharifi M, Lou W, Liu C, Yang JC, Evans CP, Corey E, Chen HW, Yu A, Ghosh PM, Gao AC. Activation of neural lineage networks and ARHGEF2 in enzalutamide-resistant and neuroendocrine prostate cancer and association with patient outcomes. Communications Medicine. 2022;2:118. doi: 10.1038/s43856-022-00182-9. PMID: 36159187; PMCID: PMC9492734.

[6] Lombard AP, Armstrong CM, D'Abronzo LS, Ning S, Leslie AR, Sharifi M, Lou W, Evans CP, Dall'Era M, Chen HW, Chen X, Gao AC. Olaparib-Induced Senescence Is Bypassed through G2-M Checkpoint Override in Olaparib-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther. 2022 Apr 1;21(4):677-685. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-21-0604. PMID: 35086956; PMCID: PMC8983570.

[1] 2024 Integrative Pathobiology GGIP Research Symposium and Recruitment Event. "Upregulation of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 3 Contributes to Olaparib-Resistant Prostate Tumor Cell Proliferation." (Poster) Davis, CA.

[2] 2023 Urologic Surgery Research Flora, UC Davis School of Medicine. “IGFBP3 Promotes Resistance to Olaparib via Modulating EGFR Signaling in Prostate Cancer.” (Talk) Sacramento, CA.

[3] 2023 Metastatic Cancer Retreat. “IGFBP3/EGFR Signaling Activates Sphingo-kinases to Induce Olaparib Resistance in Prostate Cancer.” (Talk) Sacramento, CA.

[4] 2023 Cancer Health Disparities Consortium (GMaP). Fred Hutch, University of Washington. “IGFBP3 Promotes Resistance to Olaparib via Modulating EGFR Signaling in Advanced Prostate Cancer.” (Talk) Seattle, WA.

[5] 2023 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2023 Conference. “IGFBP3 Promotes Resistance to Olaparib via Modulating EGFR Signaling in Advanced Prostate Cancer.” (Poster) Orlando, FL.

[6] 2022 31st Annual Biotechnology Training Retreat, UC Davis

“Elucidating IGFBP3’s Role in PARPi-Resistant Prostate Cancer.” (Talk) Davis, CA.

[7] 2019 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). “Structure-Function Analysis Asymmetric Division Protein LET-99.” Anaheim, CA.

[8] 2019 22nd Annual Undergraduate Poster Symposium, UC Santa Cruz. “Using Rapid Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Mapping to Locate 3’ Splice Site Choice Mutations in C. elegans.” (Poster). Santa Cruz, CA.

[9] 2019 31st Annual Northern California Undergraduate Research Symposium. “Phagocytic Behavior of Asymmetric Nanoparticles.” (Talk) Santa Clara, CA.

[10] 2019 Symposium for Undergraduate Research at UCSC (SURU), UC Santa Cruz. “Genetically Mapping 3’ Splice Site in C. elegans.” Santa Cruz, CA.

[11] 2018 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). “Phagocytic Behavior of Asymmetric Nanoparticles.” (Talk) Indianapolis, IN.

[12] 2018 Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in STEM (SACNAS). “Mapping the Branchpoints in C. elegans.” (Poster) San Antonio, TX.

[13] 2018 Koret Scholars Undergraduate Research Slam, UC Santa Cruz. “Mapping the Branchpoints in C. elegans.” (Poster) Santa Cruz, CA.

[1] 2021 - Present Committee Member, GGIP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

[2] 2023 Panelist, Avenue B (Biology) program, UC Davis ("Is Research for Me? The Great, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”)

[3] 2023 Volunteer, STEM Career Booth for Middle School Girls, Expanding Your Horizons, Sacramento State.

[4] 2023 Volunteer, Farm To Fork Festival, Sacramento, CA

[5] 2023 Volunteer, Girls in STEM, UC Davis Biotechnology Program, Museum of Science and Curiosity, Sacramento, CA

[6] 2023 Panelist, Integrative Pathobiology Research Symposium & Recruitment, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (“Q&A UC Davis Grad Life.”)

[7] 2023 Panelist, Envision program (“UC Davis PhD Educational Journey.”)

[8] 2023 Volunteer, Science Communication Outreach, Biotechnology Research Talks to Bay Area High School Students, UC Davis Biotechnology Program, UC Davis.

[9] 2021 - 2023 Volunteer Reviewer, Travel Scholarships/Poster Abstracts, SACNAS.

[10] 2022 Speaker & Organizer, GGIP DEI Symposium, UC Davis (“Microaggressions, Bias, and Diversity Consciousness.”)

[11] 2021 - 2022 Educational Outreach, STEM Squad, UC Davis

[12] 2019 Educational Outreach, Young Scientist Program (YSP), UC Davis.

[13] 2018 Organizer, Bay Area Worm Meeting (BAWM), UC Santa Cruz.

[14] 2016 - 2019 Volunteer, DNA Day, UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute

[15] 2016 - 2019 Volunteer, STEM Transfer Day, UC Santa Cruz.

[1] 2023 Society of Basic Urological Research (SBUR) Travel Award

[2] 2023 National Institute of Health (NIH) Diversity Supplement Grant

[3] 2023 UC Davis, Biotechnology Research Award (Human and Animal Health category)

[4] 2022 UC Davis School of Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, Travel Award

[5] 2020 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention

[6] 2019 UC Santa Cruz, College Nine Service Award

[7] 2019 UC Santa Cruz, International and Global Perspectives Leadership Award

[8] 2018 UC Santa Cruz, Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (NIH IMSD) Fellowship, STEM Diversity Program

[9] 2018 UC Santa Cruz, Koret Research Scholars Award