Colleen Sweeney, Ph.D.

Professor and Vice Chair of Education
Research III Bldg, Rm 1400,
Sacramento Campus
Ph: 916-838-3463
e-mail

Research Interests

  • Receptor tyrosine kinases in breast tumor progression and therapeutic resistance
  • Tumor suppressors & oncogenes in breast cancer
  • Mouse models of breast cancer
  • MicroRNA and other novel therapeutics for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Graduate Group Affiliations

See: A detailed list of current publications »

Anderson, H. Sweeney, C., Perry, R., Vaquero, J. and Ison, H. Patient-centered team-based learning in pre-clinical curriculum supporting the application of knowledge to real world clinical experience. Medical Science Educator, published Jan 02, 2020

Sweeney, C. Targeting the polyamine pathway – “a-means” to overcome chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer. *Invited* - Editors' Pick Highlight. J. Biol. Chem, 2020, 295:6278-6279. PMID: 32385094

Umeh-Garcia, M., Simion, C., Ho, P.Y., Batra, N., Berg, A., Carraway, K.L., Yu, A.M., and Sweeney, C. A Novel Bioengineered MicroRNA-127 Prodrug Suppresses the Growth And Metastatic Potential Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells. Cancer Research, 2020 Feb 1;80(3):418-429. PMC:7002233

Yokdang, N., Hatakeyama, J., Wald, J.H., Simion, C., Tellez, J.D., Chang, D.Z., Swamynathan, M.M., Chen, M., Murphy. W.J., Carraway, K.L. III and Sweeney, C. LRIG1 opposes epithelial to mesenchymal transition and inhibits invasion of basal-like breast cancer cells. 2016 Oncogene, Jun 2;35(22):2932-47.

Upper Division Courses

  • Global Disease Biology Practicum (GDB-189) Mentor
  • 199 Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates

Graduate Courses

  • 499 Research
  • MCB-215 Intensive reading course
  • 299 Research

Professional Courses for Medical Students

  1. Biochemistry Discipline Lead for I-EXPLORE curriculum
  2. Course co-Director for MDS 472 - Molecular and Cellular Medicine
  3. Course co-Director for MDS 475 - Endocrine, Reproductive, and Gastrointestinal Systems
  4. Course co-Director for MDS 479 - Clerkship Intersessions 
  • 2022 “Outstanding Basic Sciences Instructor” from the Graduating Medical Class of 2022
  • 2021 “Outstanding Basic Sciences Instructor” from the Graduating Medical Class of 2021
  • 2020 Kaiser Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching Preclinical Sciences
  • 2020 Nominated for “Inspirational Educator” Faculty Award, UCDSOM
  • 2019 “Last Lecture” for Class of 2019, UCDSOM
  • 2018 Dean’s Team Award for Excellence in Education (Team Leader with Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Dr. Michael Schick and Dr. Ian Julie), UCDSOM
  • 2017/18 Faculty Leadership Academy
  • 2017 “Outstanding Instructor” Class of 2017 for Excellence in Teaching of the Sciences Basic to Medicine
  • 2015/20 Editorial Board Member, Journal of Biological Chemistry
  • 2015 C. John Tupper Prize for Teaching – highest teaching award given at UCDSOM
  • 2014 Kaiser Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching Basic Sciences
  • 2012 “Outstanding Instructor” Class of 2012 for Excellence in Teaching of the Sciences Basic to Medicine
  • 2011 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education, UCDSOM
  • 2011 “Outstanding Instructor” Class of 2011 for Excellence in Teaching of the Sciences Basic to Medicine
  • 2010 /14Chartered Member of NIH/NCI Tumor Progression and Metastasis Study Section
  • 2008 UC Davis Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Graduate Group Publication Award
  • 2008 Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Award for Excellence in Teaching Basic Sciences
  • 2006 UC Davis School of Medicine Excellence in Education Award
  • 2005 UC Davis Health System Research Award
  • 2002/04/05 “Anne Kathryn Trelford Bell best Presentation Award” UC Davis Cancer Center annual Symposium
  • 1999 Massachusetts Department of Public Health Breast Cancer Scholar Award
  • 1994 Berlex BioSciences Predoctoral Fellowship
  • 1994 Charlton Research Poster Competition - First Place, Tufts University School of Medicine
  • 1989 American Institute of Chemists Award for graduating senior chemistry majors
  • 1989 Kenneth A. Rose Award in Chemistry, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth
  • 1988 Louis Fenaux Award in Chemistry, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth
  • 1987 Merck Index Award in Chemistry, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth
  • 1986 Special Citation to an Outstanding Freshman Chemistry Major, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth