As a physician-scientist and practicing breast medical oncologist, I have dedicated my career to understanding and treating aggressive breast cancers, with a particular focus on metastatic disease. In my roles as Co-Leader of the UCSF Breast Oncology Program, Vice-Chair of the Cell & Tissue Biology Department, and Co-Leader of the Oral, Head and Neck Research Program, I bridge the gap between basic research and clinical practice, working to translate laboratory discoveries into meaningful treatments for patients. Our research program has made significant contributions to understanding the mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis, notably identifying the critical role of the MYC oncogene in driving metastasis in triple-negative breast cancers. Our laboratory has successfully discovered multiple therapeutic vulnerabilities, including cell cycle, metabolic, and immune pathways, with the ongoing mission of developing promising new therapies for metastatic cancer.