Erick Roman

Northeast AGEP
University of Massachusetts, Amherst


Outside the molecular and cellular laboratory, signs display the warnings “Biohazard” and “Radioactive.” Inside, University of Massachusetts Ph.D. candidate and NEAGEP member Erick Roman is studying the molecular pathways that cause breast cancer.

The National Institutes of Health see promise in Roman's work—he has recently been awarded a three-year grant by the NIH to study the prophylactic effect pregnancy hormones seem to have on the incidence of breast cancer. The grant will cover Roman's salary in addition to laboratory materials and supplies used in his study. The grant is a supplement to the NIH grant of Dr. Joseph Jerry, who is the laboratory's Principal Investigator (PI) and Roman's dissertation director.

Roman also does work with soy extracts, because women with diets rich in soy tend to have fewer occurrences of breast cancer. Roman's research has yielded useful data thus far, and he plans to begin writing up his findings soon.

Roman completed his master's degree at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus before coming to UMass for his doctoral research. He has been at UMass for three years, working on these projects for a year and a half. He plans on completing his Ph.D. in another two years.

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