Education

Postdoctoral Investigator, 2005-2007, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Ft. Pierce, Florida
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2004- 2005, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan
Ph.D. Immunology, 2004, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
B.S. Molecular Biology/Biotechnology, 1996, Salem-Teikyo University, Salem, West Virginia

Research Interests

My research focuses on finding marine natural products that have the potential to be novel therapeutics against the over a hundred diseases grouped under the term cancer. These include using marine natural products to prevent cancer formation, eliminate existing tumors, stop metastasis, re-activate an immune response against tumors, or use them as tools to further our understanding of these diseases. While progress has been made against many forms of cancer, some cancers—such as pancreatic and lung cancer—still have dismal survival rates, highlighting the urgent need for new therapies to treat these and other aggressive cancers. I lead the  Cancer Cell Biology Group  of the Marine Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Program at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI). Marine natural products represent a wealth of potential treatments against cancer that have yet to be fully characterized. My work at HBOI has resulted in the discovery of novel anti-metastatic properties and inhibition of autophagy for manzamine A in pancreatic cancer cells; the ability of furospinulosin 1 to target triple negative breast cancer cells only when grown as spheroids, anti-tumor activity against pancreatic cancer by leiodermatolide, the inhibition of autophagy by scalarin in pancreatic cancer cells, the inhibition of topoisomerase II by isobatzelline E; the anti-mitotic effects of aphrocallistin and its derivatives, the inhibition of NFκB by spongiatriol and microsclerodermin A in pancreatic cancer cells (to name a few), as well as the development of cell based targeted phenotypic assays to identify novel anticancer bioactivities for marine natural compounds.

HBOIF Discretionary Grant (Guzmán). Tackling the Ubiquitin/Proteasome Pathway with Marine Natural Products as a Therapeutic Approach for Cancer. Project Period: 7/1/2025-06/30/2026. This proposal seeks to identify marine natural products that can modulate the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. This is an essential pathway for homeostasis, the maintenance of stable conditions within cells. Modulators of this pathway offer a different therapeutic approach to treat cancer, as well as autoimmune and neurological diseases.  

HBOIF Discretionary Grant (Guzmán). Tackling Inflammation with Marine Natural Products to Prevent Pancreatic Cancer Initiation and Progression. Project Period:  7/1/2024-06/30/2026. This proposal seeks to identify marine natural products that can inhibit human mast cell degranulation using marine natural products. Mast cell degranulation is a driver of the transition from pancreatitis to pancreatic cancer. The main focus is to adapt the assay from 96 to 384 well format and increase clinical predictability by using human mast cells. 

NA23OAR0110316 (Guzmán). Exploration of Deep-Water Habitats off Puerto Rico and the USVI for Biotechnology Potential. 7/1/2023-6/30/2026. The major goal of this project is to collect samples from deep water habitats off the coast of Puerto Rico and the USVI to be studied through leveraging with other grant support to identify those with biotechnology potential.

23B12 (Guzmán). Cutting the Fuel Lines of Ras-driven Cancers with Marine Natural Products. 04/01/2023-03/31/2026. Cancers driven by mutations in Ras can activate pathways such as macropinocytosis and autophagy to facilitate their growth. This proposal seeks to identify marine natural products that can block these pathways.

HBOIF Discretionary Grant (Guzmán). Fighting AGEs with Marine Natural Products. Project Period: 7/1/2023-06/30/2025. This proposal seeks to identify marine natural products that can reduce the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on human cancer cells. Accumulation of AGEs as we age are related to many dreaded diseases including cancer, heart and Alzheimer’s disease, to name a few.

HBOIF Discretionary Grant (Guzmán). Using Marine Natural Products to Stop Cancer Immune Escape.  7/1/2022-06/30/2024.  This proposal seeks to identify marine natural products that can reduce the expression of the immune checkpoint molecule B7-H4, and of the FOXP3 receptor, a marker for regulatory T cells that is aberrantly expressed by some cancers. Both molecules facilitate cancer escaping immune responses.

HBOIF Save Our Seas License Plate (Guzmán). Cutting the Fuel Lines of Ras-driven Cancers with Marine Natural Products. 7/1/2021-06/30/2023. Cancers driven by mutations in Ras can activate pathways such as macropinocytosis and autophagy to facilitate their growth. This proposal seeks to identify marine natural products that can block these pathways.

9BC01 (Guzmán). Discovery of Marine Natural Products Active Against Triple Negative Breast Cancers Using 3D-Spheroid Cultures; An in vivo Relevant Assay Platform. 5/10/2019-11/30/2022. This project seeks to screen a structurally diverse library of marine natural products to identify those that selectively target triple negative breast cancer cells grown as spheroids that better mimic tumors. Compounds identified through this screening are expected to be more clinically relevant.