Monique E Verhaegen, PhD
Research Associate Professor
Dermatology
Department of Dermatology
3431 Rogel Cancer Center 1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5932
[email protected]

Available to mentor

Monique E Verhaegen, PhD
Research Associate Professor
  • About
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • About

    Dr. Monique Verhaegen is Research Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Verhaegen is investigating the signaling pathways involved in the development and maintenance of skin cancers within the lab of Dr. Andrzej Dlugosz at the Rogel Cancer Center.

    For the past several years, Dr. Verhaegen has worked to develop a comprehensive research program focused on the pathogenesis of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but highly aggressive skin cancer linked to a Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). She has developed experimental tools, such as a large panel of MCC tumor cell lines, transgenic mouse models to identify key pathways responsible for initiation and progression of MCC and a mouse model of this deadly malignancy. Results from her research have direct translational relevance to MCC disease and may lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets. In 2022, she received the University of Michigan Research Faculty Recognition Award to honor her for outstanding achievement and contributions to skin cancer research.

    Dr. Verhaegen completed her Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Biochemistry, her Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Clinical Chemistry and her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biochemistry from the University of Windsor in Windsor, Canada. She was a postdoctoral fellow in the Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Program of the Michigan Medicine Surgery Department, then joined the laboratory of Dr. Maria S. Soengas in the Department of Dermatology where she pursued research focused on melanoma chemoresistance. Dr. Verhaegen was recruited to the department of dermatology research faculty as a Research Investigator in 2007. She was promoted to Research Assistant Professor in 2013 and to Research Associate Professor in 2022.

    Qualifications
    • Post Doctoral Fellow
      University of Michigan, Dermatology and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2007
    • Post Doctoral Fellow
      University of Michigan, Surgery, 2003
    • PhD
      University of Windsor, Windsor, 2002
    • MS
      University of Windsor, Windsor, 1998
    • BSc, Honors
      University of Windsor, Windsor, 1995
    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Rogel Cancer Center
    Research Overview

    • Molecular basis of epithelial skin cancers
    • Merkel cell carcinoma and Merkel cell polyomavirus
    • Conditional mouse models of cancer
    • Syngeneic mouse models for pre-clinical studies

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Viral Status Predicts the Patterns of Genome Methylation and Decitabine Response in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.
      Harms PW, Verhaegen ME, Vo JN, Tien JC, Pratt D, Su F, Dhanasekaran SM, Cao X, Mangelberger D, VanGoor J, Choi JE, Ma VT, Dlugosz AA, Chinnaiyan AM. J Invest Dermatol, 2022 Mar; 142 (3 Pt A): 641 - 652. DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2021.07.173
      PMID: 34474081
    • Journal Article
      Direct cellular reprogramming enables development of viral T antigen-driven Merkel cell carcinoma in mice.
      Verhaegen ME, Harms PW, Van Goor JJ, Arche J, Patrick MT, Wilbert D, Zabawa H, Grachtchouk M, Liu C-J, Hu K, Kelly MC, Chen P, Saunders TL, Weidinger S, Syu L-J, Runge JS, Gudjonsson JE, Wong SY, Brownell I, Cieslik M, Udager AM, Chinnaiyan AM, Tsoi LC, Dlugosz AA. J Clin Invest, 2022 Apr 1; 132 (7): DOI:10.1172/JCI152069
      PMID: 35143422
    • Journal Article
      Characterizing the Therapeutic Potential of a Potent BET Degrader in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.
      Choi JE, Verhaegen ME, Yazdani S, Malik R, Harms PW, Mangelberger D, Tien J, Cao X, Wang Y, Cieślik M, Gurkan J, Yazdani M, Jing X, Juckette K, Su F, Wang R, Zhou B, Apel IJ, Wang S, Dlugosz AA, Chinnaiyan AM. Neoplasia, 2019 Mar; 21 (3): 322 - 330. DOI:10.1016/j.neo.2019.01.003
      PMID: 30797188
    • Journal Article
      Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Small T Antigen Initiates Merkel Cell Carcinoma-like Tumor Development in Mice.
      Verhaegen ME, Mangelberger D, Harms PW, Eberl M, Wilbert DM, Meireles J, Bichakjian CK, Saunders TL, Wong SY, Dlugosz AA. Cancer Res, 2017 Jun 15; 77 (12): 3151 - 3157. DOI:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-0035
      PMID: 28512245
    • Journal Article
      Merkel cell polyomavirus small T antigen is oncogenic in transgenic mice.
      Verhaegen ME, Mangelberger D, Harms PW, Vozheiko TD, Weick JW, Wilbert DM, Saunders TL, Ermilov AN, Bichakjian CK, Johnson TM, Imperiale MJ, Dlugosz AA. J Invest Dermatol, 2015 May; 135 (5): 1415 - 1424. DOI:10.1038/jid.2014.446
      PMID: 25313532
    • Journal Article
      Merkel cell carcinoma dependence on bcl-2 family members for survival.
      Verhaegen ME, Mangelberger D, Weick JW, Vozheiko TD, Harms PW, Nash KT, Quintana E, Baciu P, Johnson TM, Bichakjian CK, Dlugosz AA. J Invest Dermatol, 2014 Aug; 134 (8): 2241 - 2250. DOI:10.1038/jid.2014.138
      PMID: 24614157
    • Journal Article
      Distinct gene expression profiles of viral- and nonviral-associated merkel cell carcinoma revealed by transcriptome analysis.
      Harms PW, Patel RM, Verhaegen ME, Giordano TJ, Nash KT, Johnson CN, Daignault S, Thomas DG, Gudjonsson JE, Elder JT, Dlugosz AA, Johnson TM, Fullen DR, Bichakjian CK. J Invest Dermatol, 2013 Apr; 133 (4): 936 - 945. DOI:10.1038/jid.2012.445
      PMID: 23223137
    • Journal Article
      E2F1-dependent oncogenic addiction of melanoma cells to MDM2.
      Verhaegen M, Checinska A, Riblett MB, Wang S, Soengas MS. Oncogene, 2012 Feb 16; 31 (7): 828 - 841. DOI:10.1038/onc.2011.277
      PMID: 21743494