National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
University of the Philippines, Diliman

National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Pia D. Bagamasbad, Ph.D.

Professor

PROFILE

Institute Director, National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (2022 – Present)

Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, MI USA

PhD Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, MI USA

BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines, Diliman

CONTACT

PUBLICATIONS

LABORATORY

  • Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory

Understanding the role of hormones in cancer, brain development and epigenetic regulation

Established in 2015, the Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory is devoted to studying the role of hormones in the development of the nervous system, hormone-dependent cancers, and in remodeling the epigenome. 

The laboratory uses cultured mouse and human cell model systems, along with advanced molecular biology assays including reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), lentiviral transduction, and next generation sequencing to investigate the molecular mechanisms of hormone action at the transcriptional level.

Research Area

  1. Identification and functional analysis of lncRNAs regulated by thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids in neuronal cells through RNA sequencing and in silico data mining. 
  2. Investigation of the molecular basis for the synergistic interaction between glucocorticoids and thyroid hormone on transcriptional regulation and its functional consequence in neuronal development. 
  3. Drug screen for selective androgen receptor modulators for prostate cancer therapy. 
  4. Elucidation of the mechanism behind the glucocorticoid therapy paradox in breast cancer. 
  5. Probing the link between circadian control, hormone signaling, and breast cancer. 
  6. Assessment of the epigenetic effects of endocrine disruptors in breast cancer. 
  7. Characterizing emerging SARS-CoV-2  Spike protein variants of concern using psuedovirus neutralization assays. 

Selected Publications

Mojica CAR, Ybañez WS, Olarte KCV, Poblete ABC, Bagamasbad PD. Differential Glucocorticoid-Dependent Regulation and Function of the ERRFI1 Gene in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Endocrinology. 2020 Jul 1;161(7):bqaa082. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa082. PMID: 32432675; PMCID: PMC7316368.

Kregel S, Bagamasbad P, He S, LaPensee E, Raji Y, Brogley M, Chinnaiyan A, Cieslik M, Robins DM. Differential modulation of the androgen receptor for prostate cancer therapy depends on the DNA response element. Nucleic Acids Res. 2020 May 21;48(9):4741-4755. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa178. PMID: 32198885; PMCID: PMC7229860.

Bagamasbad PD, Espina JEC, Knoedler JR, Subramani A, Harden AJ, Denver RJ. Coordinated transcriptional regulation by thyroid hormone and glucocorticoid interaction in adult mouse hippocampus-derived neuronal cells. PLoS One. 2019 Jul 26;14(7):e0220378. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220378. PMID: 31348800; PMCID: PMC6660079.

Bagamasbad PD, Bonett RM, Sachs L, Buisine N, Raj S, Knoedler JR, Kyono Y, Ruan Y, Ruan X, Denver RJ. Deciphering the regulatory logic of an ancient, ultraconserved nuclear receptor enhancer module. Mol Endocrinol. 2015 Jun;29(6):856-72. doi: 10.1210/me.2014-1349. Epub 2015 Apr 13. PMID: 25866873; PMCID: PMC4447637.