Colleen Sweeney, Ph.D. | UC Davis Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

See: A detailed list of current publications »

Anderson, H. Sweeney, C., Perry, R., Vaquero, J. and Ison, H. "Patient-centered team-based learning in pre-clinical curriculum supporting the application of knowledge to real world clinical experience". Medical Science Educator, published Jan 02, 2020

Sweeney, C. "Targeting the polyamine pathway – “a-means” to overcome chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer". *Invited* - Editors' Pick Highlight. J. Biol. Chem, 2020, 295:6278-6279. PMID: 32385094

Umeh-Garcia, M., Simion, C., Ho, P.Y., Batra, N., Berg, A., Carraway, K.L., Yu, A.M., and Sweeney, C. A "Novel Bioengineered MicroRNA-127 Prodrug Suppresses the Growth And Metastatic Potential Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells". Cancer Research, 2020 Feb 1;80(3):418-429. PMC:7002233

Yokdang, N., Hatakeyama, J., Wald, J.H., Simion, C., Tellez, J.D., Chang, D.Z., Swamynathan, M.M., Chen, M., Murphy. W.J., Carraway, K.L. III and Sweeney, C. "LRIG1 opposes epithelial to mesenchymal transition and inhibits invasion of basal-like breast cancer cells". 2016 Oncogene, Jun 2;35(22):2932-47.

Upper Division Courses

• Global Disease Biology Practicum (GDB-189) Mentor
• 199 Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates

Graduate Courses

• 499 Research
• MCB-215 Intensive reading course
• 299 Research

Professional Courses for Medical Students

• Course co-Director for MDS 472 - Molecular and Cellular Medicine
• Course co-Director for MDS 475 - Endocrine, Reproductive, and Gastrointestinal Systems
• Course co-Director for MDS 479 - Clerkship Intersessions 

• 2025 UC Davis Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award for Graduate and Professional Teaching
• 2024 “Outstanding Instructor” Class of 2024 for Excellence in Teaching of the Sciences Basic to Medicine
• 2023 “Outstanding Instructor” Class of 2024 for Excellence in Teaching of the Sciences Basic to Medicine
• 2023 I-EXPLORE Achievement Award for Integration and Collaboration – for exemplary skills in collaborating with other faculty and integrating educational content,
• 2022 “Outstanding Basic Sciences Instructor” from the Graduating Medical Class of 2022
• 2021 “Outstanding Basic Sciences Instructor” from the Graduating Medical Class of 2021
• 2020 Kaiser Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching Preclinical Sciences
• 2020 Nominated for “Inspirational Educator” Faculty Award, UC Davis School of Medicine
• 2019 “Last Lecture” for Class of 2019, UC Davis School of Medicine
• 2018 Dean’s Team Award for Excellence in Education (Team Leader with Sarah Medeiros, Michael Schick and Ian Julie), UC Davis School of Medicine
• 2017-2018 Faculty Leadership Academy
• 2017 “Outstanding Instructor” Class of 2017 for Excellence in Teaching of the Sciences Basic to Medicine
• 2015-2025 Editorial Board Member, Journal of Biological Chemistry
• 2015 C. John Tupper Prize for Teaching – highest teaching award given at UC Davis School of Medicine
• 2014 Kaiser Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching Basic Sciences
• 2012 “Outstanding Instructor” Class of 2012 for Excellence in Teaching of the Sciences Basic to Medicine
• 2011 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education, UC Davis School of Medicine
• 2011 “Outstanding Instructor” Class of 2011 for Excellence in Teaching of the Sciences Basic to Medicine
• 2010-2014 Chartered Member of NIH/NCI Tumor Progression and Metastasis Study Section
• 2008 UC Davis Biochemistry and  Molecular Biology Graduate Group Publication Award
• 2008 Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Award for Excellence in Teaching Basic Sciences
• 2006 UC Davis School of Medicine Excellence in Education Award
• 2005 UC Davis Health System Research Award
• 2002 “Anne Kathryn Trelford Bell best Presentation Award” UC Davis Cancer Center annual Symposium
• 1999 Massachusetts Department of Public Health Breast Cancer Scholar Award
• 1994 Berlex BioSciences Predoctoral Fellowship
• 1994 Charlton Research Poster Competition - First Place, Tufts University School of Medicine
• 1989 American Institute of Chemists Award for graduating senior chemistry majors
• 1989 Kenneth A. Rose Award in Chemistry, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth
• 1988 Louis Fenaux Award in Chemistry, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth
• 1987 Merck Index Award in Chemistry, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth
• 1986 Special Citation to an Outstanding Freshman Chemistry Major, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth