iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Tomorrow we celebrate the life and accomplishments of J. Michael Bishop @ucsfcancer.bsky.social who set the foundation for modern cancer biology. I was blessed to have spent some time in his lab. Looking forward to celebrating with all the former trainees. Some pics from his 90th BDay dinner.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Really enjoyed attending the Metabolic Rewiring in Cancer and Degenerative Diseases symposium @UnivHelsinki this week. Lots of great speakers and fascinating new research on how metabolism can be leveraged for benefit treatment of multiple diseases. @ucsfcancer.bsky.social @ctbatucsf.bsky.social

Panel discussion at the end of the meeting, showing 5 scientists. Drs. Renslo, Goga, Junttila, Brenner, Pirinen

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

A wonderful day for outrigger canoeing around Alcatraz to Angel Island. #SFBay

Outrigger canoe sits on Perle’s Beach on Angel Island with views of Alcatraz and San Francisco cityscape in the background.

Six outrigger canoe enthusiasts take a selfie. Golden Gate Bridge is in the background.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Devastated to learn of the passing of the great cancer pioneer J. Michael Bishop. Mentor and friend, it was only a few weeks ago we celebrated his 90th birthday. He taught us that the seeds of cancer lie within us and spent his career combating cancer. 🧪 @ucsfcancer.bsky.social

Mike Bishop at his 90th birthday party surrounded by former trainees. Feb 23rd, 2026, Larkspur, CA

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Alamere Falls in the Pointe Reyes Sea Shore. One of a handful of waterfalls that cascade into the Pacific. Happy Birthday @girlsinscience.bsky.social The best 35+ years.

Alamere Falls in the background. Two goofy people in front.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Bought a hand-held UV light for spouse’s birthday to explore our backyard in San Francisco. Found a bunch of these cool millipedes. Anyone know anything about this species?

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Outstanding talk by Isaac Chan describing how tissues can build resilience to prevent the growth of metastatic breast cancer. Thanks for visiting @ucsfcancer.bsky.social and presenting your work. Looking forward to the publication

Dr. Isaac Chan visiting the Presidio Tunnel Top Park with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. He is smiling.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

Bay Area storms brings an unmoored boat to Crissy Field #ggnra this morning.

Picture of Golden Gate Bridge in the background with a small boat upside down in the foreground on the beach at Crissy Field

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Amazing weather in the Bay Area the past week. Here’s some wildlife spotted in San Francisco over the past few days. The coyote playing with stuffed animals is a highlight.

Cooper’s Hawk on a power line in San Francisco.

Great Horned Owl in an oak tree in San Francisco.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

The UCSF Breast Oncology Program is happy to partner with One More City and founder Christine O’Connell to support metastatic breast cancer research. This will be the 4th year that together with Rapha they have sponsored a century ride. @ucsfcancer.bsky.social @ctbatucsf.bsky.social

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Enjoyed the Physics of Life Symposium today @UCSF

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

If you are in Northern California, consider joining us in San Francisco at City Hall from 1-3 PM this Friday. Outstanding line up of speakers will include: grad students, pharma, astronomers, patients, city supervisors and a Nobel laureate! Please join or help get the word out if you can. 🧪🧬🧫

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Very important rally this Friday. If you are in Northern California, join us at San Francisco City Hall from 1-3 PM. Outstanding lineup of speakers: grad students, pharma, astronomers, patients, city supervisors and a Nobel laureate. Join or get the word out. @standupforscience.bsky.social

Sign announcing a rally for science at San Francisco City Hall. Friday, March 7th 1-3PM.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Looking forward to the UCSF Breast Oncology Program Retreat tomorrow, including our Session 4 on Tumor Metabolism. Amazing speakers including: Scott Dixon, Kristy Brown, Kai Trepeka, Vivian Lee and Jennifer Rosenbluth @ucsfcancer.bsky.social @ctbatucsf.bsky.social

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

While taking a walk today, I noticed this fence post. Hope always survives.

Wooden fencepost with young plants emerging from a hollowed out portion.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Congrats Jeremy! Also, signing the ceiling where the champagne cork landed to celebrate his PhD.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Dr. Jeremy Williams presents his thesis studies on lipid metabolism in breast cancer. Cool story on how TNBC cells and adipocytes are coupled via gap junctions to induce local lipolysis. We propose breast cancers 'steal' lipids for increased FAO and growth. #metabolism @ucsfcancer.bsky.social

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Folks of UCSF reminder today: Tues Jan 14 3:30-5pm Cole Hall -- Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi: "Targeting the Glycocalyx for Cancer Immune Therapy" (Zena Werb Memorial Lecture in Cancer Biology @ucsfcancer.bsky.social

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Look who I saw on my morning walk. Western Blue Bird, San Francisco

Picture of a Western Blue Bird with orange and blue coloration. San Francisco, CA 1/12/25

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

An excellent talk. A sword, a top hat, and off to Genentech. I look forward to following all your scientific successes.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Join us to celebrate Rachel Nakagawa's thesis defense on Friday the 13th @ctbatucsf.bsky.social @ucsfcancer.bsky.social Exciting work on how spatial organization of tumors alters emergent properties and therapy response.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

#Turkeytrot 2024 completed. Managed to outrun all of the turkeys but few of the humans.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Birthday hike along Salt Point State Park, Sonoma Coast, CA

Seals on a rock at Salt Point State Park

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Congratulations to amazing UCSF graduate students Rachel Nakagawa and Jeremy Williams who filed their dissertations this week from the GogaLab. Really exciting work on functional aspects of tumor spatial organization and metabolism. @ucsfcancer.bsky.social @ctbatucsf.bsky.social

The GogaLab at UCSF enjoying lunch on 11/15/2024

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Amazing grad student Daphne Superville presenting new work from the Goga and Isha Jain labs on how oxygen alters breast metastasis at today’s RIP symposium. Wouldn’t it be great to use oxygen to prevent and treat breast cancer metastasis? #medsky 🧪 @ucsfcancer.bsky.social @ctbatucsf.bsky.social

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Introducing the Goga Lab @ctbatucsf.bsky.social @ucsfcancer.bsky.social We study aggressive breast and liver cancers and mechanisms of oncogene signaling that lead to metastasis. Our works spans various areas including metabolism, cell cycle and spatial organization of tumors. oncogenes.net

Goga Lab members dressed up as characters from The Office (circa October 31, 2023)

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

We model EGFR/RAS/RAF inhibitor sensitivity and resistance. We find inhibitors cause sensitivity in 3D to these agents. In contrast 3D tumor spheres are resistant to DNA damage agent cisplatin. @ucsfcancer.bsky.social @ctbatucsf.bsky.social

NSCLC tumor cells are sensitive to EGFR inhibitor afatinib in 3D, but resistant to DNA damaging agent cisplatin. The reverse is true in 2D monolayer.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Treatment of NSCLC tumors with EGFR inhibitors causes collapse of the tumor mass, but the tumor remnant includes abundant collagen surrounding the remaining resistant cells both Trichrome and Picrosirius red staining and polarized imaging. @ucsfcancer.bsky.social @ctbatucsf.bsky.social

Images of NSCLC tumor xenografts treated with the 2nd generation EGFR inhibitor afatinib. Residual tumor tissues are highly enriched for extracellular matrix, such as collagen.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

Why do tumor cells become rapidly resistant to EGFR/RAF/RAS inhibitors in lung cancer? Our latest work from student Rachel Nakagawa identifies that spatial organization of tumor cells can alter YAP localization Cells grown in 3D have cytoplasmic YAP and readily die. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Schema showing how YAP is localize in 2D (nuclear) and 3D (cytoplasmic). Following drug treatment there is more dense matrix allowing for YAP nuclear localization.

Figure showing: A. lung tumors shrink by up to 90% after 5 days of afatinib treatment. B.-C. Residual tumor mass shows increased nuclear YAP compared to untreated tumors.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Crissy Field, SF today at dusk. One of my favorite places.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

In Reno today. Strong Kamala Harris vibe. Spoke with many energized young people voting for the first time. Signs of support abound. @kamalahqrepeater.bsky.social Though dark-horse Rick Astley also there. @rickastl3y.bsky.social

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 19/10/2024

Congrats to Tonatiuh (Ton) Montoya who recently defended his PhD from the GogaLab #UCSF (oncogenes.net). Wonderful work revealing that #MYC #livercancer is dependent on alanine catabolism. May lead to new therapies for this deadly disease. @ctbatucsf.bsky.social 🧪

Ton Montoya receiving the ceremonial sword and hat given to PhD recipients

The GogaLab at UCSF posing in front of Ton Montoya self-portraits

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 14/01/2024

Why do raven hate lawn bowling? Ah the eternal question. Seen this morning in Golden Gate Park tearing up the place. 🧪🪶

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 20/09/2023

Congrats Laura Persson #UCSF #postdoc slam winner AND audience favorite winner in @girlsinscience.bsky.social lab! Go Wormnado!!

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 16/09/2023

Hiking the waterfall at Sardine Lake. A last bit of summer before classes start again.

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Andrei Goga @andreigoga.bsky.social · 27/08/2023

Saddened to hear of the passing of Filippo Giancotti, a leader in the field of cancer metastasis. I fondly recall Filippo visiting UCSF for a seminar. He loved interacting with all of the students and post-docs, even joining us for bowling. Obituary by Dario Altieri: rupress.org/jcb/article/...

The GogaLab @UCSF circa fall 2014 hosting Filippo Giancotti (right) for a bowling extravaganza.

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