Dr. Melinda Epstein is a scientist who specializes in oncology/hematology research. She graduated with honors in biology from Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., and completed her doctorate in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her doctoral research was the basis for the first clinical trial investigating the treatment of breast cancer with combined biological therapies Herceptin® (trastuzumab) – the first biologic treatment for breast cancer – and Avastin® (bevacizumab), the first clinically available blood vessel inhibitor in the United States.
Dr. Epstein went on to complete five years of postdoctoral research investigating genetic mechanisms underlying breast and ovarian carcinoma development and progression at the USC/Norris Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Following her postdoctorate, Dr. Epstein worked on a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-funded grant investigating the mechanisms by which patients develop resistance to therapy, and optimizing the isolation of blood coagulation factors for treating patients with hemophilia. Dr. Epstein served as a senior research scientist in the pharmaceutical setting and was responsible for the development and validation of in vitro diagnostic tests utilized to actionable genetic mutations in cancer.
Dr. Epstein currently works at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian where she participates in ongoing research in breast cancer. She holds membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).