Ingrid Wertz

Ingrid Wertz is a leader in the biology of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) in cancer, particularly USP7 which stabilizes MDM2 to promote p53 degradation and thus represents a compelling therapeutic target for p53 wild-type cancers. Her work has characterized how ubiquitin chain editing by DUBs regulates NF-kB signaling, TNF receptor pathways, and innate immunity in cancer cells. She has contributed to the development of selective USP7 inhibitors that reactivate p53 tumor suppression. Her research on linear ubiquitin chains and LUBAC signaling has revealed new nodes of ubiquitin-dependent regulation in cancer cell survival.