Jessica A Martinez, PhD
Dr. Martinez completed a BS in 2005 from Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI. At the University of Arizona, she completed an MS in Nutritional Science in 2007 and a PhD in Nutritional Sciences in 2010. She was an R25T Postdoctoral Fellow in Cancer Prevention and Control from 2011 – 2014 at UACC. Her training has been in the context of early phase clinical trials to understand the mechanisms of putative cancer chemopreventive agents, including resveratrol, limonene, green tea polyphenols, ursodeoxycholic acid, aspirin and selenium. These trials have primarily been in breast, but also colorectal, lung and esophageal cancers. She has been an Assistant Research Professor in Nutritional Sciences since 2015.
Cancer Focus
Dr. Martinez’ research focuses on early phase clinical development of cancer preventive agents and on modulating intermediate biomarkers of cancer risk contained in tissues and biofluids, including the metabolites, cytokines, proteins and metabolome. Of particular interest are oxylipins from arachidonic acid metabolism and bile acids. She is currently co-investigator on cancer prevention clinical trials to investigate the roles of metformin and sulindac in breast cancer prevention, of side effects of selenium in colorectal cancer prevention, and of limonene in obese Hispanic males. Additionally, she is co-PI of a pilot study to determine blood and imaging-based biomarkers of AIMSS in breast cancer patients.