Natalia von Muhlinen, Ph.D.
- Center for Cancer Research
- National Cancer Institute
- Building 37, Room 3054
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- 240-760-6420
- natalia.vonmuhlinen@nih.gov
RESEARCH SUMMARY
Dr. von Muhlinen is a molecular biologist whose research focus on cancer and aging. She applies molecular and biological techniques as well as mouse models of disease to better understand the basis of disease with a translational approach to discover novel therapeutic targets of clinical relevance. Her specific research interests include cellular immunity, premature aging diseases, lung cancer as well glioblastoma (the most aggressive type of brain cancer), cellular senescence, microbiome, autophagy and p53 isoforms.
Natalia von Muhlinen, Ph.D.
Research
Dr. von Muhlinen’s research is currently focused in two main areas: 1) p53 isoforms in aging and cancer; and 2) the microbiome of lung cancer. She is exploring the role of a p53 isoform in glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. She is using molecular and cellular biology techniques, as well as 3D culture and mouse models of glioblastoma to unravel new therapeutic targets to improve the prognosis of glioblastoma patients. Dr. von Muhlinen is also collaborating with colleagues to study the changes in the lung microbiota in lung cancer, their association with the tumor microenvironment and lung cancer development, and their potential therapeutic use to delay or decrease lung tumorigenesis.
Biography
Natalia von Muhlinen, Ph.D.
Dr. von Muhlinen completed her B.S. in Chemistry in 2008 at the University of Cordoba (Argentina). Dr. von Muhlinen was awarded the Cesar Milstein Scholarship in 2008 to join the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Cambridge, UK) as a pre-doctoral student. She received her PhD in Molecular Biology in 2012 from the University of Cambridge (UK). She investigated how cells defend themselves against intracellular bacterial pathogens and earned the Max Perutz Award to the best PhD thesis. Dr. von Muhlinen joined the Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis (LHC) in 2013 as a visiting post-doctoral fellow. Her post-doctoral research focused on the role of p53 isoforms in the premature aging syndrome Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria (HGPS). She obtained an Employee Discovery and Invention Report (EIR, 2015), a Technology Transfer Award (2016) and a Fellows Award of Research Excellence (FARE, 2016). After a short term (2019-2021) as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland (Baltimore), she returned to the LHC as a Staff Scientist (2021-present).