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- Genomics and Gene Regulation Program
The Genomics and Gene Regulation (GGR) Program was developed to define genetic, genomic and epigenetic changes that influence cancer formation, progression and treatment response to develop new and effective means to positively impact cancer diagnoses, treatments and cures.
The Genomics and Gene Regulation (GGR) Program was developed to define genetic, genomic and epigenetic changes that influence cancer formation, progression and treatment response to develop new and effective means to positively impact cancer diagnoses, treatments and cures.
The four aims of the GGR program
The program will make novel insights from genetic, genomic and epigenetic studies and apply them to end cancer.
Aim 1
Transformation Drivers
Identify genetic and epigenetic drivers and inhibitors of transformation
Aim 3
Exploit Cancer Vulnerabilities
Discover and exploit cancer vulnerabilities therapeutically targeting underlying pathways
Aim 2
Mechanisms of Instability
Define the mechanisms behind genomic instability, tumor heterogeneity and evolution
Aim 4
New Therapeutic Approaches and Combinations
Use findings to translate new therapeutic strategies to the clinic
Leadership
Scott Kopetz, M.D., Ph.D.
GGR Co-leader
Swathi Arur, Ph.D.
GGR Co-leader
Kunal Rai, Ph.D.
GGR Associate Leader
Francesca Cole, Ph.D.
GGR Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination Liaison
Joya Chandra, Ph.D.
GGR Community Outreach and Engagement Liaison
GGR members regularly participate in the following activities
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GGR Program Retreat
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Genetics and Epigenetics Graduate Program Retreat
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Center for Cancer Epigenetics Retreat
More about the retreat
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John H. Blaffer Lecture Series
More about Blaffer Lectures
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Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis Seminar
More about Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis Seminars
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Genetics & Epigenetics Graduate Program Student Seminar
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Genetics & Epigenetics Faculty Insight Series
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Featured Publications
BRCA2 C-terminal clamp restructures RAD51 dimers to bind B-DNA for replication fork stability
Molecular Cell, 2025
Longo MA, Ahmed SM, Chen Y, Tsai CL, Namjoshi S, Shen R, Ahmed Z, Wang X, Perera RL, Arvai A, Lee M, Kong LR, Engl W, Ng WS, Zhao ZW, Venkitaraman AR, Tainer JA, Schlacher K
Encorafenib, cetuximab and chemotherapy in BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial
Nature Medicine, 2025
Kopetz S, Yoshino T, Van Cutsem E, Eng C, Kim TW, Wasan HS, Desai J, Ciardiello F, Yaeger R, Maughan TS, Beyzarov E, Zhang X, Ferrier G, Zhang X, Tabernero J
A spatially resolved single-cell genomic atlas of the adult human breast
Nature, 2023
Kumar T, Nee K, Wei R, He S, Nguyen QH, Bai S, Blake K, Pein M, Gong Y, Sei E, Hu M, Casasent AK, Thennavan A, Li J, Tran T, Chen K, Nilges B, Kashikar N, Braubach O, Ben Cheikh B, Nikulina N, Chen H, Teshome M, Menegaz B, Javaid H, Nagi C, Montalvan J, Lev T, Mallya S, Tifrea DF, Edwards R, Lin E, Parajuli R, Hanson S, Winocour S, Thompson A, Lim B, Lawson DA, Kessenbrock K, Navin N
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