Marc Hansen

Biography

I am from Vancouver Island (Victoria) in BC, Canada, attended BYU from 1991 to 1997 with a mission in Marseille, France during that time. After a BS in Molecular Biology from BYU, I earned a PhD in Cancer Research from Stanford and completed a post-doc at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Teaching Interests

I teach introductory biology for majors (PDBIO120) and have taught Cell Biology (PDBIO360) and Histology (PDBIO325) in the past. Outside of molecular and cell biology, I am interested in teaching BIO-innovation courses. These courses address how technologies and ideas rooted in the life sciences become new companies that create prosperity and jobs.

Research Interests

I came to BYU seeking to understand how individual epithelial cells detach from tissues, a process called epithelial-mesenchymal transition that occurs throughout development and that is recapitulated in cancer metastasis. After over 10 years of dissecting this process, serendipity led us to discover a novel small molecule drug that may soon enter clinical trials. Having developed a passion for drug discovery, we now work to develop new small molecule therapeutics for human diseases that have poor current treatment options.

Experience

Professional

Visiting Researcher, Imperial College London, 2012-2013

Memberships

American Association of Cancer Researchers, 2012-Present

American Society of Cell Biologists, 1998-Present

Courses Taught
Winter 2019

PDBIO 295R: Introductory Undgrad Research Section 007
PDBIO 349R: PDBio Teaching Experience Section 009
PDBIO 445: Bio-Innovation 2 Section 001
PDBIO 455R: PDBio Seminar Section 001
PDBIO 495R: Adv Undergraduate Research Section 007, 020
PDBIO 649R: Laboratory Research Section 007
PDBIO 699R: Master's Thesis Section 007

Fall 2018

PDBIO 120: Science of Biology Section 003
PDBIO 295R: Introductory Undgrad Research Section 007
PDBIO 349R: PDBio Teaching Experience Section 008
PDBIO 444: Bio-Innovation 1 Section 001
PDBIO 455R: PDBio Seminar Section 001
PDBIO 495R: Adv Undergraduate Research Section 007, 020
PDBIO 498: Advanced Senior Research Section 001
PDBIO 699R: Master's Thesis Section 007

Summer 2018

PDBIO 295R: Introductory Undgrad Research Section 007
PDBIO 495R: Adv Undgraduate Research Section 007

Spring 2018

PDBIO 295R: Introductory Undgrad Research Section 007
PDBIO 495R: Adv Undgraduate Research Section 007
PDBIO 550R: Advanced Topics in PDBio Section 007

Publications

Journal Articles

Hansen MD, Hoj J, Davis J, Fullmer K, Morrell D, Saguibo N. 2014. Cellular Contractility Changes are Sufficient to Drive Cellular Scattering. Experimental Cell Research. In press.

Barcellos K, Wagner M, Langford P, Call SG, Staley D, Chung J, Hansen MD. 2013. ARHGAP21: a new partner of α-tubulin involved in cell-cell adhesion formation and essential for Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Journal of Biological Chemistry. epub.

Jake G, Moody J, Ascione M, Hansen MD. 2013. Zyxin-VASP interactions alter actin regulatory activity in zyxin-VASP complexes. Cellular and Molecular Biology Letters. epub.

Hansen MD. 2013. Control of actin dynamics by allosteric regulation of actin binding proteins. International Review in Cellular and Molecular Biology.

Langford P, Keyes L, Hansen MD. 2012. Plasma membrane ion fluxes and NFAT-dependent gene transcription contribute to c-met-induced epithelial scattering. Journal of Cell Science. 125:4001-4013.

Call SG, Brereton D, Bullard JT, Chung JY, Meacham KL, Morrell DJ, Reeder DJ, Schuler JT, Slade AD, Hansen MD. 2011. A zyxin-nectin interaction facilitates zyxin localization to cell-cell adhesions. Biochemistry and Biophysics Research Communications. 415:485-489.

Langford PR, Hansen MD. 2011. Initiation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition by c-met receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. Current Topics in Biochemical Research. 13:81-90.

Chung JY, Davis JA, Price B, Staley DM, Wagner MV, Warner SL, Bearss DJ, Hansen MD. 2011. Competitive enhancement of HGF-induced epithelial scattering by accessory growth factors. Experimnetal Cell Research. 317:307-318.

Call SG, Chung JY, Davis JA, Proce BD, Primavera TS, Thomson NC, Wagner MV, Hansen MD. 2011. Zyxin phosphorylation at serine 142 modulates the zyxin head-tail interaction to alter cell-cell adhesion. Biochemistry and Biophysics Research Communications. 404:780-784.

Sperry R, Bishop N, Bramwell J, Carter M, Fowler B, Maxfield S, Lewis Z, Staley D, Vellinga R, Brodeur M, et al. 2010. Actin-membrane linkages at adherens junctions of cell undergoing epithelial-mesenchyme transition. Journal of Cellular Physiology. 222:612-624.