Biography
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Michael F. Press, MD, PhD Professor of Pathology Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (University of South California) Los Angeles, CA |
Michael F. Press is a board certified Pathologist who has authored or co-authored more than 170 papers and is recognized for his work in characterizing molecular genetic alterations of breast cancer. He is currently serving as a Surgical Pathologist at the USC Los Angeles County Hospital and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center where he is a Professor of Pathology and holds the Harold E. Lee Chair in Cancer Research. He was formerly an Assistant Professor of Pathology, and a Surgical Pathologist at the University of Chicago (1981–1987), where he received both his MD, and PhD degrees.
Dr. Press is the Director of a reference laboratory (USC Breast Cancer Analysis Laboratory) engaged in private practice pathology on a referral basis (1988–present). In this laboratory he evaluates prognostic markers and predictive markers as well as histopathology used in making treatment decisions for women with breast cancer. He is also the Director of the central laboratory for the Cancer International Research Group (CIRG), a clinical trials organization that evaluates new therapies in predominantly breast cancer patients but also conducts several trials of other cancers including gastric cancer.
Dr. Press's particular area of research interest is in molecular alterations of breast and gynecologic cancers, especially those that have the potential to be important in either diagnostic or therapeutic decision-making for patient management. The most prominent area of activity for his laboratory has been in the study of the human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) in breast and other cancers. His laboratory published their first paper in this area in 1989 (Science 1989; 244: 707–12) and his laboratory is still actively contributing to this area as well as to the conduct of clinical trials evaluating HER2 as a target for therapy.
Dr. Press is active in teaching medical students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and resident physicians.
Dr. Press is the Co-Leader of the Women's Cancers Program at the USC Norris Cancer Center. In this position he is responsible for coordinating research activities of basic scientists, clinical scientists, prevention scientists and epidemiologists and for presenting our progress in competing renewal grant proposals for our NCI-funded Comprehensive Cancer Center.