Catherine Nutt, PhD

Dr. Nutt’s studies of brain tumors began in graduate school where she investigated mechanisms of drug resistance in glial cells. Upon receiving her PhD in Pathology in 1997 from the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, she was awarded a Junior Research Fellowship Award from the National Cancer Institute of Canada to study brain tumor invasion at the Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. In 2000, Dr. Nutt moved to Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, where she began her studies of brain tumor gene expression profiles. Dr. Nutt joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School as an Instructor in 2003 and is currently an Assistant Professor in Pathology.

The primary research interests of Dr. Nutt’s laboratory are the biological and clinical implications of brain tumor heterogeneity. In particular, the lab analyzes glial tumor samples for cellular and genetic differences within each of: distinct pathologic subgroups, distinct molecular genetic subgroups, and groups of patients who have responded to treatment in a unique or distinct fashion. The lab is also investigating the clinical consequences of brain tumor stem cell heterogeneity in malignant gliomas. Ultimately, the goal of the lab is to use the knowledge gained through these investigations to develop novel biomarkers and treatment strategies for improved clinical management of patients with malignant glioma.