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).

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.