Cell Biologist Mina Bissell left Iran at age eighteen and
embarked on a career in American science. Her fearless
approach and unconventional thinking have helped
shape ideas about how breast tumors develop. Dr. Bissell is
the recipient of the 2007 Pezcoller Foundation-AACR
International Award for Cancer Research for her pioneering
work on the relationship between cancer genetics and the
three-dimensional structure of cells and tissues. She has
also been selected to be the recipient of 2008 Federation of
American Societies for Experimental Biology Excellence in
Science award for her paradigm shifting conceptualization of
"dynamic reciprocity." Her seminal papers in Science,
Nature, and Journal of Cell Biology have been
referred to as “milestones in cancer.” Her long-term goal is
to develop a more realistic three-dimensional model of
breast cancer that mimics its normal situation, and can be
used to study cancer
pathogenesis and test anticancer drugs.
“Diversity and
different points of view are good for
science. It's not
just because 50 percent of this society is made up of
women—I think that women do bring different insights to
science”
Links:
Bissell Lab Website
Incyte Genomics Interview
Nature Medicine Interview
Events 
October
is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
