Division of Surgical Oncology & Endocrine Surgery

Assistant Professor
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Claudia Andl currently focuses her research on the interaction of E-cadherin and TGF-β family members in modulating cancer migration and invasion. To investigate the crosstalk between the tumor and the microenvironment we utilize organotypic reconstruct cultures. These cultures allow the analysis of the crosstalk between epithelial and stromal cells as well as the identification of signaling pathways modulated during fibroblast-dependent invasion and metastasis. We further developed animal models to study tumor progression in vivo and to investigate aspects of inflammation and the tumor microenvironment. In vitro and in vivo models are also the basis for projects relating to the role of miRNAs in esophageal cancer.

Education:

Dr. Andl received the Masters of Science (1992-97) from the University of Heidelberg, Germany. She received her Ph.D. in 2001 from the University of Essen, Germany (summa cum laude), completing her research project for that degree at the University of Pennsylvania, PA.

Postdoctoral Training:

From 2001 to 2005 Dr. Andl was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the GI Division at the University of Pennsylvania, PA. In 2006 she was presented with the Research Scholar Award from the American Gastroenterology Association, Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition. Until 2008 Dr. Andl served as a Research Associate at the University of Pennsylvania, before joining the Vanderbilt University faculty as Assistant Professor in February 2008.

Research Support:

• NIH R01-DK094900 07/01/12-06/30/17
  Title: The role of Activin A in esophageal cell invasion
• NIH R03-DK091491 08/01/12-07/30/14
  Mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk during esophageal cell invasion
• NIH K01-DK075379 07/01/07-06/30/12
  Title: E-cadherin regulates TGFRII biology and function.
• DDRC Pilot Program DK058404 07/01/09-05/31/11
  Title: A mouse model of tissue-specific E-cadherin and TGF-β receptor II loss in the esophagus
• AGA Research Scholar Award 07/01/06- 06/30/10
  Title: Interaction of E-cadherin and TGF-β receptor II modulates cancer migration and invasion.
• NIH Kirschstein-NRSA F32-CA108657 07/01/05-6/30/06
  Title: E-cadherin biology in cell migration and invasion.
  Role: Trainee

Awards:

• April 2002: PhD, Summa cum laude
• October 2002: “Top oral presentation” Award, Postdoctoral Biomedical Symposium, University of Pennsylvania
• 2006 AGA/FDHN Research Scholar Award 

Publications:
Review some of Dr. Andl's abstracts on PubMed.

Teaching:

Dr. Andl is active in the education of undergraduate and graduate students at Vanderbilt. Every summer as well as during the semester, undergraduate students join the laboratory. Additionally, Dr. Andl lectures in the Advanced Course (CANB342) for the Department of Cancer Biology. She is also a Small Group Facilitator for the Curriculum 2.0, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, and a Mentor for Vanderbilt Medical Emphasis students.

Lab Members:

• Gregoire F. Le Bras, PhD, Post-doctoral fellow
• Rainelli B. Koumangoye, PhD, Postdoctoral fellow
• Chase Taylor, B.S., Research Assistant
• Rebecca Katie Lee, B.S.