Julio Valencia
Summary
I actively work in the field of immunology with emphasis on uncovering the biology of interferons (IFNs) and autoimmunity at the Cancer Innovation Laboratory (CIL) at NCI-Frederick. Previously, I worked on skin biology, pigmentation, and melanoma as part of the Pigment Cell Biology Section in the Laboratory of Cell Biology, NCI in Bethesda, MD. In there, I studied the effect of post-translational modifications over the stability and trafficking mechanisms of melanoma-differentiation markers such as gp100/Pmel17, tyrosinase and dopachrome tautomerase. In 2006, I spearheaded the completion of the first melanosome proteome that identified several novel biomarkers for melanoma and elucidated the role of melanosomes over drug resistance (2009). From 2012 to 2014, I served as chair of the Pigment Cell Interest group at NIH. I also was elected as Council member of the Pan American Society of Pigment Cell Research for the period of 2013-2015. Currently, my research is focused on understanding the mechanisms of cancer growth in the context of autoimmunity. I am determined to identify novel mechanisms that lead to immune-based therapies capable to produce optimal anti-tumor responses with minimal risk of severe immune-related events in hosts with pre-existing autoimmunity.