Caitlin M O'Connor

 Caitlin O'connor
Research Assistant Professor
Internal Medicine
Medical School
[email protected]
Available to mentor
Caitlin M O'Connor
Caitlin O'connor
Research Assistant Professor
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    • About

    Caitlin O'Connor, PhD is an Assistant Professor on the Research Track in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Genetic Medicine. Dr. O'Connor studies Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and its role in cancer development. While PP2A's role in tumor development has been extensively studied in cell models, mouse models modulating PP2A have not been extensively explored. She has a strong interest in the development of novel mouse models that more closely represent human disease. Working with Dr. Goutham Narla, she has developed multiple new mouse models, including models of breast cancer and high-grade uterine cancer.

    Dr. O'Connor has been awarded multiple independent research grants from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) from the Department of Defense, and the Foundation for Women's Cancer. She has been working in the PP2A field for over 10 years, has over 20 peer-reviewed publications, and is the inventor on one patent.

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    Qualifications
    • Postdoctoral Research Fellow
      University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States
      2019 - 2022
    • PhD, Pharmacology
      Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, United States
      2013 - 2019
    • BA, Biochemistry and Biophysics
      Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Winona, United States
      2010

    Recent Publications

     See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Characterizing spatial gene expression patterns in a novel mouse model of high-grade endometrial cancer
      O'Connor C, Barrie K, Zawacki K, Bergin I, Narla G. Gynecologic Oncology, 2026 Apr 26; 208: s380 - s381. DOI:10.1016/j.ygyno.2026.01.657
    • Journal Article
      Abstract PR014: A PP2A molecular glue overcomes RAS/MAPK inhibitor resistance in KRAS-mutant non–small cell lung cancer
      Narla G, Raines B, O'Connor CM. Cancer Research, 2026 Mar 7; 86 (5_Supplement_1): pr014 - pr014. DOI:10.1158/1538-7445.rasoncother26-pr014
    • Journal Article
      The protein phosphatase 2A-B56α complex regulates N-Myc degradation in neuroblastoma.
      Tran BD, Peris I, Wurman E, Huang A, Onishi GH, Hu J, Avelar RA, Newman EA, DiFeo A, O'Connor CM, Narla G. J Biol Chem, 2026 Feb 16; 111298 DOI:10.1016/j.jbc.2026.111298
      PMID: 41707997
    • Additional Scholarship
      Fig. S1 from Small-Molecule–Mediated Stabilization of PP2A Modulates the Homologous Recombination Pathway and Potentiates DNA Damage-Induced Cell Death
      Avelar RA, Armstrong AJ, Carvette G, Gupta R, Puleo N, Colina JA, Joseph P, Sobeck AM, O'Connor CM, Raines B, Gandhi A, Dziubinski ML, S. D, Resnick K, Singh S, Zanotti K, Nagel C, Waggoner S, Thomas DG, Skala SL, Zhang J, Narla G, DiFeo A. 2025 Nov 29; DOI:10.1158/1535-7163.30733869
    • Additional Scholarship
      Fig. S2 from Small-Molecule–Mediated Stabilization of PP2A Modulates the Homologous Recombination Pathway and Potentiates DNA Damage-Induced Cell Death
      Avelar RA, Armstrong AJ, Carvette G, Gupta R, Puleo N, Colina JA, Joseph P, Sobeck AM, O'Connor CM, Raines B, Gandhi A, Dziubinski ML, S. D, Resnick K, Singh S, Zanotti K, Nagel C, Waggoner S, Thomas DG, Skala SL, Zhang J, Narla G, DiFeo A. 2025 Nov 29; DOI:10.1158/1535-7163.30733866
    • Additional Scholarship
      Fig. S3 from Small-Molecule–Mediated Stabilization of PP2A Modulates the Homologous Recombination Pathway and Potentiates DNA Damage-Induced Cell Death
      Avelar RA, Armstrong AJ, Carvette G, Gupta R, Puleo N, Colina JA, Joseph P, Sobeck AM, O'Connor CM, Raines B, Gandhi A, Dziubinski ML, S. D, Resnick K, Singh S, Zanotti K, Nagel C, Waggoner S, Thomas DG, Skala SL, Zhang J, Narla G, DiFeo A. 2025 Nov 29; DOI:10.1158/1535-7163.30733863
    • Additional Scholarship
      Fig. S4 from Small-Molecule–Mediated Stabilization of PP2A Modulates the Homologous Recombination Pathway and Potentiates DNA Damage-Induced Cell Death
      Avelar RA, Armstrong AJ, Carvette G, Gupta R, Puleo N, Colina JA, Joseph P, Sobeck AM, O'Connor CM, Raines B, Gandhi A, Dziubinski ML, S. D, Resnick K, Singh S, Zanotti K, Nagel C, Waggoner S, Thomas DG, Skala SL, Zhang J, Narla G, DiFeo A. 2025 Nov 29; DOI:10.1158/1535-7163.30733860
    • Additional Scholarship
      Fig. S5 from Small-Molecule–Mediated Stabilization of PP2A Modulates the Homologous Recombination Pathway and Potentiates DNA Damage-Induced Cell Death
      Avelar RA, Armstrong AJ, Carvette G, Gupta R, Puleo N, Colina JA, Joseph P, Sobeck AM, O'Connor CM, Raines B, Gandhi A, Dziubinski ML, S. D, Resnick K, Singh S, Zanotti K, Nagel C, Waggoner S, Thomas DG, Skala SL, Zhang J, Narla G, DiFeo A. 2025 Nov 29; DOI:10.1158/1535-7163.30733857