Daysha Ferrer Torres, PhD

Assistant Professor, Medicine-Gastroenterology

FacultyPhoto
Graduate School
  • PhD, University of Michigan (2017)
Undergraduate School
  • BS, University of Puerto Rico System (PR) (2011)
Fellowships
  • University of Michigan Program, Postdoctoral fellowship-Cell and Developmental Biology & Cancer Biology (2023)
Languages
English, Spanish
Department
Medicine-Gastroenterology

Professional Titles

  • Director of Innovation and Translational Research-Rady Center of Excellence

Recognitions

  • Early Career Award, The Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) (2021)
    The Society for In Vitro Biology established the Early Career Award as the Young Scientist Award in 2009 to recognize outstanding early-career scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of in vitro biology and/or in the development of novel technologies that have advanced in vitro biology.
  • MOSAIC Scholar, NIDDK-AAMC (2022)
    K99/R00 scholars are promising researchers with a research or clinical doctorate degree. MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars hail from diverse backgrounds, for example from groups underrepresented in research, as they transition from postdoctoral appointments into academic research faculty positions. The AAMC engages the MOSAIC scholars in a curriculum throughout all award years that includes skills-building workshop participation, immersive activities with their local institutional and AAMC-identified mentors, and leadership and professional development conference attendance with field experts and peers nationwide.
  • Distinguish Alumni- Program in Biomedical Science, Cancer Biology, PIBS-Cancer Biology University of Michigan (2019)
  • Postdoc 180 award- Scientific Communication, Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies-University of Michigan (2018)
    Postdoc 180 is a competition to communicate your scientific research with only one slide and 180 seconds. In this platform, you can practice science communication to a broad audience, connect with fellow science enthusiasts, and win exciting prizes

Publications

  • Zhang CJ, Meyer SR, O'Meara MJ, Huang S, Capeling MM, Ferrer-Torres D, Childs CJ, Spence JR, Fontana RJ, Sexton JZ. A human liver organoid screening platform for DILI risk prediction. J Hepatol. 2023 May;78(5):998-1006. PubMed PMID: 36738840
  • Marella S, Sharma A, Ganesan V, Ferrer-Torres D, Krempski JW, Idelman G, Clark S, Nasiri Z, Vanoni S, Zeng C, Dlugosz AA, Zhou H, Wang S, Doyle AD, Wright BL, Spence JR, Chehade M, Hogan SP. IL-13-induced STAT3-dependent signaling networks regulate esophageal epithelial proliferation in eosinophilic esophagitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 Dec;152(6):1550-1568. PubMed PMID: 37652141
  • Ferrer-Torres D, Wu JH, Zhang CJ, Hammer MA, Dame MK, Wu A, Holloway EM, Karpoff K, McCarthy CL, Bohm MS, Cuttitta AJ, Tigani DJ, Huang S, Tsai YH, Miller AJ, Walker T, Bayer DE, Hogan SP, Turgeon DK, Lin J, Higgins PDR, Sexton J, Spence JR. Mapping the adult human esophagus in vivo and in vitro. Development. 2022 Oct 15;149(20). PubMed PMID: 36278875
  • Ray P, Nancarrow DJ, Ferrer-Torres D, Wang Z, San Martinho M, Hinton T, Wu JH, Wu A, Turgeon DK, Hammer MA, Dame MK, Lawrence TS, O'Brien PJ, Spence JR, Beer DG, Ray D. UBCH5 Family Members Differentially Impact Stabilization of Mutant p53 via RNF128 Iso1 During Barrett's Progression to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;13(1):129-149. PubMed PMID: 34416429
  • Nadal E, Chen G, Gallegos M, Lin L, Ferrer-Torres D, Truini A, Wang Z, Lin J, Reddy RM, Llatjos R, Escobar I, Moya J, Chang AC, Cardenal F, Capellà G, Beer DG. Epigenetic inactivation of microRNA-34b/c predicts poor disease-free survival in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2013 Dec 15;19(24):6842-52. PubMed PMID: 24130071
  • Leicht DT, Kausar T, Wang Z, Ferrer-Torres D, Wang TD, Thomas DG, Lin J, Chang AC, Lin L, Beer DG. TGM2: a cell surface marker in esophageal adenocarcinomas. J Thorac Oncol. 2014 Jun;9(6):872-81. PubMed PMID: 24828664
  • Shen YC, Upadhyayula R, Cevallos S, Messick RJ, Hsia T, Leese MP, Jewett DM, Ferrer-Torres D, Roth TM, Dohle W, Potter BV, Barald KF. Targeted NF1 cancer therapeutics with multiple modes of action: small molecule hormone-like agents resembling the natural anticancer metabolite, 2-methoxyoestradiol. Br J Cancer. 2015 Oct 20;113(8):1158-67. PubMed PMID: 26461061
  • Stachler MD, Taylor-Weiner A, Peng S, McKenna A, Agoston AT, Odze RD, Davison JM, Nason KS, Loda M, Leshchiner I, Stewart C, Stojanov P, Seepo S, Lawrence MS, Ferrer-Torres D, Lin J, Chang AC, Gabriel SB, Lander ES, Beer DG, Getz G, Carter SL, Bass AJ. Paired exome analysis of Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma. Nat Genet. 2015 Sep;47(9):1047-55. PubMed PMID: 26192918
  • Myers AL, Lin L, Nancarrow DJ, Wang Z, Ferrer-Torres D, Thomas DG, Orringer MB, Lin J, Reddy RM, Beer DG, Chang AC. IGFBP2 modulates the chemoresistant phenotype in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Oncotarget. 2015 Sep 22;6(28):25897-916. PubMed PMID: 26317790
  • Lin J, Myers AL, Wang Z, Nancarrow DJ, Ferrer-Torres D, Handlogten A, Leverenz K, Bao J, Thomas DG, Wang TD, Orringer MB, Reddy RM, Chang AC, Beer DG, Lin L. Osteopontin (OPN/SPP1) isoforms collectively enhance tumor cell invasion and dissemination in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Oncotarget. 2015 Sep 8;6(26):22239-57. PubMed PMID: 26068949
  • Ferrer-Torres D, Nancarrow DJ, Kuick R, Thomas DG, Nadal E, Lin J, Chang AC, Reddy RM, Orringer MB, Taylor JM, Wang TD, Beer DG. Genomic similarity between gastroesophageal junction and esophageal Barrett's adenocarcinomas. Oncotarget. 2016 Aug 23;7(34):54867-54882. PubMed PMID: 27363029
  • Ferrer-Torres D, Nancarrow DJ, Steinberg H, Wang Z, Kuick R, Weh KM, Mills RE, Ray D, Ray P, Lin J, Chang AC, Reddy RM, Orringer MB, Canto MI, Shaheen NJ, Kresty LA, Chak A, Wang TD, Rubenstein JH, Beer DG. Constitutively Higher Level of GSTT2 in Esophageal Tissues From African Americans Protects Cells Against DNA Damage. Gastroenterology. 2019 Apr;156(5):1404-1415. PubMed PMID: 30578782
  • Miller AJ, Dye BR, Ferrer-Torres D, Hill DR, Overeem AW, Shea LD, Spence JR. Generation of lung organoids from human pluripotent stem cells in vitro. Nat Protoc. 2019 Feb;14(2):518-540. PubMed PMID: 30664680
  • Ray D, Ray P, Ferrer-Torres D, Wang Z, Nancarrow D, Yoon HW, San Martinho M, Hinton T, Owens S, Thomas D, Jiang H, Lawrence TS, Lin J, Lagisetty K, Chang AC, Beer DG. Isoforms of RNF128 Regulate the Stability of Mutant P53 in Barrett's Esophageal Cells. Gastroenterology. 2020 Feb;158(3):583-597.e1. PubMed PMID: 31715145
  • Ray P, Jaiswal S, Ferrer-Torres D, Wang Z, Nancarrow D, Curtin M, Martinho MS, Lacy SM, Kasturirangan S, Thomas D, Spence JR, Truttmann MC, Lagisetty KH, Lawrence TS, Wang TD, Beer DG, Ray D. GRAIL1 stabilizes misfolded mutant p53 through a ubiquitin ligase-independent, chaperone regulatory function. Mol Cancer Res. 2024 Jul 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 39018356
  • . Integrated genomic characterization of oesophageal carcinoma. Nature. 2017 Jan 12;541(7636):169-175. PubMed PMID: 28052061
  • Lagisetty KH, McEwen DP, Nancarrow DJ, Schiebel JG, Ferrer-Torres D, Ray D, Frankel TL, Lin J, Chang AC, Kresty LA, Beer DG. Immune determinants of Barrett's progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma. JCI Insight. 2021 Jan 11;6(1). PubMed PMID: 33290281

Personal Interests
Volleyball, hiking, sports

Public Speaking
Yes



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Aurora, CO 80045

303.724.5375

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