Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular function of the Fanconi anemia (FA) protein network in context with other proteins that regulate or influence genomic stability. Fanconi anemia is a rare genetic disease that is typically associated with developmental abnormalities, bone marrow failure and increased risk of cancer. Because the majority of the FA proteins are unique with no significant homologies, we expect the results of our studies to shed new light on fundamental mechanisms that control the integrity of the human genome and influence cancer susceptibility. The FA pathway is part of a network of proteins that contains BRCA2 and two other recently identified FA genes (FANCN and FANCJ) that influence breast cancer susceptibility. Ultimately, insights into the mechanism of the FA/BRCA network of proteins will lead to an understanding of the underlying molecular defect in FA and may lead to more effective avenues of treatment for this devastating pediatric disease and cancer.
We work in Portland, Oregon at OHSU, in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.
Bio for Maureen Hoatlin
Maureen Hoatlin is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Molecular & Medical Genetics at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). After earning a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Old Dominion University, she was a project chemist at SRI International in Menlo Park, CA for two years, followed by six years as a research associate at Genentech, Inc. She received a Ph.D. at Oregon Health & Science University for graduate work focusing on the role of retroviruses in pathogenesis and hematopoietic cancers. She joined the faculty in Hematology & Medical Oncology at OHSU in 1993, and was a Visiting Scientist & Professor in the Department of Genetics at the Free University and Medical Center of Amsterdam in 1998 and in 2002. Dr. Hoatlin’s research is focused on identifying and analyzing the function of the proteins in the Fanconi Anemia/Breast Cancer (FA/BRCA) cancer susceptibility pathway. Her work has contributed to the discovery and characterization of ten novel human genes, many with critical but poorly understood roles in hematopoiesis, cancer susceptibility (AML and other cancers), and resistance to certain commonly-used chemotherapeutic drugs. Dr. Hoatlin’s lab pioneered a cell-free approach to analyze the function of the FA/BRCA pathway and recently received a patent for a novel small molecule inhibitor screen for identification of FA/BRCA pathway inhibitors and potential chemosensitizing compounds.
Dr. Hoatlin has recently completed an MBA with a specialty on international business in Asia, as well a specialized UCSF course (ACDRS) on the drug development pipeline that focuses on preparation for future developments and changes in the global pharmaceutical sector. Dr. Hoatlin is a member of the strategic planning leadership for OHSU’s School of Medicine, the Hematologic Malignancies Program, advisory board member of the Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute, and founding co-chair of the OHSU Rare Disease Consortium. Dr. Hoatlin is interested in developing industry-academic partnerships aimed at using rare disease research to de-risk drug development.
Teaching Links
- Our lab's Fanconi Anemia antibodies are available from Novus Biologicals and by Millipore.
PMCB Conjoint Class 2018-2019
Genetic Mechanisms Class (CON662)
Med Students Fundamentals
Biochemistry Seminar Series
Biochemistry Seminar Series and Combined Series Working Draft
Classes of the past
CONJ606/PMCB 2017-2018
Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology(BMB625)
Advanced Topics in Cancer Biology (CANB 610)
OHSU DNA Replication, Recombination and Repair (R3) Club.
Basic Wiki/OWW Links
<wikionly>
Recent changesList of abbreviations:
- N
- This edit created a new page (also see list of new pages)
- m
- This is a minor edit
- b
- This edit was performed by a bot
- (±123)
- The page size changed by this number of bytes
30 October 2025
27 October 2025
24 October 2025
</wikionly>
