Iva S. Greenwald

Dr. Iva S. Greenwald is a Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Greenwald is known as a pioneer in the field of LIN-12/Notch signaling. LIN-12/Notch is the receptor component of one of the major signaling systems for specifying cell fate during animal development. Mutations in core components and modulators of the LIN-12/Notch pathway are implicated in cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and other diseases and syndromes. The Greenwald lab uses Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to study how LIN-12/Notch signaling is modulated during normal development and to identify potential ways that it may be modulated to combat disease. In her developmental studies, Greenwald aims to understand the fundamental logic and molecular events that govern cell fate and decision-making. By comparing two different cell fate decision paradigms, Greenwald is able to apply powerful methods of genetic analysis to fundamental mechanisms of cell fate specification that operate in all animals. During these two different paradigms, different modulatory mechanisms regular LIN-12/Notch activity and different signals are integrated so that correct cell fate decisions are made. Understanding how these two different paradigms operate can contribute greatly to our understanding of healthy and pathological functioning of the LIN-12/Notch pathway. Over the course of her career, Greenwald has made major contributions to our understanding of the components and regulation of this clinically important signal transduction pathway.  In addition to her American Academy of Arts and sciences membership, Greenwald is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Her publications appear in prominent journals such as Cell, Nature, and Science.