Assistant Professor, Biology
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Email: michael.weichhaus@chaminade.edu
Phone: (808) 735-4286
Courses
Biology
Biography
Dr. Weichhaus conducted his postdoctoral research on the influence of osteoprotegerin expression in breast cancer cells on metastasis at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo until 2014, and joined the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Chaminade University of Honolulu in spring 2015. His teaching is focused on Cellular and Molecular Biology, specifically teaching courses related to human nutrition and metabolism as well as cancer biology. He has established an independent research group (Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism) examining the energy metabolism of cancer cells. The specific research goal is to determine if cancer cells can survive in an environment deprived of cancer’s preferred metabolic fuel. His research has already benefited close to a dozen undergraduate students that had the opportunity to engage in molecular cancer research, preparing them for future careers as scientists and physicians. He recently secured his first independent research grant from the NIH INBRE program.
Education
B.Sc. in Molecular Biology, University of Aberdeen, 2005; M.Sc. in Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Aberdeen, 2006; Ph.D. in Molecular Breast Cancer Biology, Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, 2010; PostDoc in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 2011-2014.
Academic Degrees
PostDoc in Pharmaceutical Sciences – University of Hawaii at Hilo, 2011-2014
Ph.D. in Molecular Breast Cancer Biology – Robert Gordon University Aberdeen Molecular Biology, 2010
M.Sc. in Molecular Genetics – Robert Gordon University Aberdeen Molecular Biology, 2006
B.Sc. in Molecular Biology – Robert Gordon University Aberdeen Molecular Biology, 2005
Selected Publications
Weichhaus M., Segaran P., Renaud A., Geerts D., Connelly L. (2014) Osteoprotegerin expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells promotes metastasis. Cancer Med, 3(5), 1112-25
Weichhaus M., Segaran P., Renaud A., Geerts D., & Connelly L. (2014) Osteoprotegerin expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells promotes metastasis. Cancer Medicine, 3(5), 1112-25.
Weichhaus M., Broom J., Wahle K., & Bermano G. (2014) Leptin inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells at supraphysiological concentrations by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Oncology Letters, 8(1), 374-78.
Weichhaus M., Broom J., Wahle K., & Bermano G. (2012) A novel role for insulin resistance in the connection between obesity and postmenopausal breast cancer. International Journal of Oncology, 41(2), 745-52.
Weichhaus M., Broom I., & Bermano G. (2011) The molecular contribution of TNF-α in the link between obesity and breast cancer. Oncology Reports, 25(2), 477-83.
