in 2023 September 15

Contact: Anissa Riley, College of Veterinary Medicine

TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA – Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine researchers Dr. Deepa Bedi has been granted a US patent for methods of detecting aggressive breast cancer cells.

Patent no. 11624748B2 Bedi, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Tuskegee University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, for breast cancer research, particularly triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the highly aggressive subtypes for which there is no cure. .

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. About 30% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women each year are breast cancer. According to breastcancer.org, approximately 13% (about 1 in 8) of US women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. The increasing incidence of breast cancer is widely recognized. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognizes that breast cancer is a modern epidemic, affecting one in eight American women.

These staggering statistics regarding breast cancer, which has epidemic status, is one of the reasons why Dr. The Bedi laboratory focuses on research in this area.

“In my lab, we have developed new peptides that can specifically recognize breast cancer cells that are very aggressive and metastatic,” she said. “These peptides can recognize cancer cells at the stage when the cancer cell leaves its original site and is ready to invade distant organs.

“If it’s diagnosed and caught early, it can be treated to prolong progression-free survival,” she said. “However, it can be missed at an early stage and the disease metastasizes, reducing overall survival.” Therefore, we aim to increase the sensitivity of detecting metastatic cells by using these EMT-specific peptides as detection tools for highly metastatic disease.

“We are proud of the groundbreaking work our College of Veterinary Medicine researchers are doing as they continue to demonstrate that Tuskegee University’s achievements are impacting the world,” said Dean Dr. Ruby L. Perry. Colleges of Veterinary Medicine. “Dr. Bedi and her team are to be commended for their scientific contributions to the innovation in breast cancer research that led to this outstanding discovery and US patent.

Known for her expertise and dedication, Bedi is a well-funded researcher specializing in health disparities research. She has become a national leader in cancer health disparities, with an extensive history of mentorship and collaboration with fellow Tuskegee University researchers, and a strong commitment to mentoring and developing minority trainees. With unrelenting passion, Dr. Bedi has been at the forefront of breast cancer disparities research at Tuskegee University for more than nine years. Her pioneering work has received significant funding from various organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA).

“Dr. Bedi and her team are conducting cutting-edge research on how to detect and treat very difficult-to-treat cancers,” said Associate Dean for Research and Advanced Studies Dr. Temesgen Samuel. “The current patent for unique molecular tools and technologies to detect metastasis-prone breast cancer cells is an example of the high-quality creative research being conducted by faculty at the College.” Over the past 10 years, research led by TUCVM faculty has resulted in seven Tuskegee University patents that we are proud to claim.

To learn more about the college and its research programs, visit www.tuskegee.edu/vetmed.

© 2023 Tuskegee University