Janet L. Brandsma, Ph.D.

Training:

B.A. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 1970 (French)
M.A.T. Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 1971
Ph.D. Yale University, New Haven, CT, 1981 (Epidemiology/Virology)
Career:
1981-83 Postdoctoral Fellow, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
1983-84 Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Otolaryngology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY
1984-89 Head, Section of Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Otolaryngology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY
1989-93 Assistant Professor, Comparative Medicine and Epidemiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
1993-97 Associate Professor, Comparative Medicine and Epidemiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
1997-98 Associate Professor (Investigator Track), Comparative Medicine and Epidemiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
1998- Research Scientist, Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
1999- Research Scientist, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Expertise:

Epidemiology; Genetics; Immunotherapy; Virology; Angiogenesis; Cancer; Cancer vaccine; Carcinoma; Cervical cancer; Cervical cancer screen; Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus; CRPV; DNA vaccine; Genital wart; HPV; HPV test; Human papillomavirus; Immunotherapy; Papillomavirus; Prevention; Squamous cell cancer; Treatment; Vaccine; Vaccines

Research Interests:

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are etiologically involved in inducing cervical and other anogenital cancers. Our goals are: 1) to define the genetic determinants of papillomavirus-induced benign and malignant disease, and 2) to develop a papillomavirus vaccine to prevent tumors from forming, and/or to induce, or accelerate, their regression. To address these goals, we utilize the well characterized cottontail papillomavirus (CRPV)-rabbit system. For goal 1: we generate site specific mutations in a completeCRPV genome, test the ability of the mutant genomes to induce disease in rabbits, and characterize lesions that form histologically and biochemically. For goal 2, we generate, and then bind to fine gold particles, eukaryotic expression vectors for individual CRPV genes. Rabbits are immunized with the DNA-coated particles (the candidate vaccine) using an Accell Gene Delivery System. The rabbit immune response is characterized, and its effectiveness is evaluated by challenge with CRPV.

Professional Service:

Selected Publications: