Vera Donnenberg , PhD

Dr. Vera Donnenberg is an Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the School of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh with a secondary appointment in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She is also the Director of Basic Research at Pitt’s Heart, Lung and Esophageal Surgery Institute. Dr. Donnenberg earned her MS in Clinical Pharmacology in 1994 from Johns Hopkins University and her PhD with Honors in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2002 from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Donnenberg’s research focuses on:

• Tumorigenic stem cells in lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and breast cancer
• Therapeutic resistance
• Interaction of tumor cells and regenerating tissue
• Lung immunology

Dr. Donnenberg has written over 395 publications, abstracts, book chapters, and other scientific presentations.  Throughout her career she has received numerous awards, the Coulter Foundation Marylou Ingram Woman in Science Award, the Rising Star Award from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, the American College of Clinical Pharmacology Excellence in Achievement and was elected as a Regent to the Board of Regents of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology. Dr. Donnenberg is a member of several professional and scientific societies including but not limited to the International Society for Stem Cell Research, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the International Society for Analytical Cytometry.  She is a Representative to the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies for the Association of American Medical Colleges (CFAS-AAMC). View a list of Dr. Donnenberg’s publications here.