Yanixa Quiñones Avilés
About
Research
Overview
Yanixa's doctoral research investigated how distinct oncogenic KRAS variants influence the molecular and functional biology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Using integrated transcriptomic, proteomic, and phosphoproteomic approaches in isogenic cell models, she examined the molecular consequences of individual KRAS mutations and the extent to which they produce allele-specific molecular programs. Her work demonstrated that cellular context is the predominant driver of molecular variation under baseline conditions, highlighting the context-dependent nature of KRAS signaling. She also developed a multiplexed competitive fitness assay to quantify allele-specific differences in tumor cell fitness and mutation-specific responses to selective pressures and therapeutic perturbations, with the goal of identifying mutation-specific vulnerabilities that could inform precision oncology. Her long-term research interests include understanding how genetic variation shapes disease biology and therapeutic response, integrating functional genomics with pharmacogenomics, and advancing precision medicine strategies that translate molecular discoveries into improved patient care..