Brent Derry

Derry received his B.Sc. from Carleton University, his M.Sc. from McMaster University, and his PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His PhD thesis research elucidated the mechanism by which the anti-cancer drug Taxol suppresses microtubule dynamics, and the role of beta-tubulin isotypes in Taxol resistance. During his postdoctoral studies at the University of California he identified and characterized the C. elegans p53 tumour suppressor gene. 

Derry’s research is focused on understanding the pathobiology of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM), how alternative polyadenylation of mRNA affects oncogene signaling in neuroblastoma, and the role of inherited protein aggregates in cell fate specification. His lab uses the nematode worm C. elegans and human cancer cell lines to address these questions. Derry is Viewpoints Editor for the FEBS Journal, an Affiliate for bioRxiv, and serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards for Cavernous Malformation Canada and Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation (USA).

Education and experience

PhD | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
M.Sc. | Biochemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
B.Sc. | (Honours) Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

2023 – Present: Research Integrity Advisor, The Hospital for Sick Children
2019 – Present: Canada Research Chair in Genetic models of human disease
2016 – Present: Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
2015 – Present: Vice Chair of Fundamental Research, Garron Family Cancer Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children
2011 – 2016: Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
2010 – Present: Senior Scientist, Developmental, Stem Cell & Cancer Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children
2003 – 2011: Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
2003 – 2010: Scientist, Developmental, Stem Cell & Cancer Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children
1997 – 2003: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Santa Barbara

1. CDK-4 regulates nucleolar size and metabolism at the cost of late-life fitness in C. elegans. Webster R, Quintana M, Yu B, Fluke S, Kafri R and Derry WB. 
   Heredity. May 18, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41437-025-00769-7.
2. MRCK-1 activates non-muscle myosin for outgrowth of a unicellular tube in Caenorhabditis elegans. Popiel EM, Ahluwalia R, Schuetz S, Yu B, and Derry WB. Development. 2024. Dec 1;151(23):dev202772.
3. Noncanonical inheritance of phenotypic information by protein amyloids. Eroglu M, Zocher T, McAuley J, Webster R, Xiao MZX, Yu B, Mok C, and Derry WB. Nature Cell Biology. 2024. Oct;26(10):1712-1724.
4. Familial Cerebral Cavernous Malformartions. Flemming KD, Smith E, Marchuk D, Derry WB, Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE,
   Amemiya A. editors. GeneReviews^® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993. 2003 Feb 24 [updated 2023 Jul 27].

5. Alternative polyadenylation is a determinant of oncogenic Ras function. Subramanian A, Hall M, Hou H, Mufteev M, Yu B, Yuki KE, Nishimura H, Sathaseevan A, Lant B, Zhai B, Ellis J, Wilson MD, Daugaard M, and Derry WB. Science Advances. 2021 Dec 17;7(51):eabh0562.