Dr. Black received a Ph.D. at the University of Florida in Biomedical Sciences. Her thesis focused on transcriptional regulation in vaccinia virus. Dr. Black completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Joseph Nevins at Duke University. While at Duke, she initiated experiments to examine oncogenic signaling pathways using both biochemical and genomics tools.

Dr. Black's lab focuses on understanding how to better predict cancer patients response to small molecule and immuno-targeted therapies. We use genomics and bioinformatics tools to dissect the complexity of the oncogenic process. The data from genomics experiments and patient samples also lead to opportunities for drug discovery and design efforts as we uncover molecular effectors of deregulated signaling cascades common to many types of cancers. Finally, we have begun using health outcomes data to generate hypotheses that can be studied in the clinical arena and the wet lab.

Stamatkin Chistopher, Ratermann Kelley L, Westendorf Colleen, Black Esther Penni. (2015). Response to Class IA isoform selective inhibition of PI3K in NSCLC cells uncovers functional specificities and compensations of Class IA enzymes. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Romanelli Frank, Gokun Yevgeniya, Garces Helen, Policastri Anne, Black Esther Penni. (2012). A pilot common reading experience (CRE) to integrate basic and clinical sciences education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Eduction, 76(3), Article 25. Black Esther Penni, Frolov Audrey A, Timmons R, Willian M, Balko J M, Britson J, Bryant J L. (2011). A microRNA gene expression signature predicts response to erlotinib in epithelial cancer cell lines and targets EMT. British Journal of Cancer, 106(1), 148-156. Black Esther Penni, Balko Justin M. (2009). A gene expression predictor of response to EGFR-targeted therapy stratifies progression-free survival to cetuximab in KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. BMC Cancer/BioMed Central Ltd, 9, 145. Black Esther Penni, Balko Justin M, Barton Frederick, Britson Joel S. (2009). Deregulation of DUSP activity in EGFR-mutant lung cancer cell lines contributes to sustained ERK1/2 signaling. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications/Science Direct/Elsevier, 390(3), 849-854.