Cancer Center
The CSHL Cancer Center is a basic research facility committed to exploring the fundamental biology of human cancer. With support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1987, our researchers have used a focused, multi-disciplinary approach to break new ground in basic tumor biology and develop innovative, advanced technologies. Research covers a broad range of cancer types, including breast, prostate, leukemia, glioma, pancreatic, sarcoma, lung, and melanoma.
Three Scientific Programs provide focus in Cancer Genetics and Genomics; Cellular Communication in Cancer; and Gene Regulation and Inheritance. In addition, ten Shared Resources offer essential access to technologies, services, and expertise that enhance productivity. With a strong collaborative environment and open communication, the CSHL Cancer Center is able to make breakthroughs in cancer biology that are translating into real progress in cancer diagnostics and treatment.
Members of the CSHL Cancer Center apply a multi-pronged approach—from genomic biology to animal models to detailed biochemistry—to interrogate the molecular mechanisms that drive tumor growth and metastasis. Building on this basic research, scientists at the Lab are translating their findings into novel therapeutics for many of the most intractable cancers. Much of this research is made possible through numerous collaborations with clinical partners, including a strategic alliance with the nearby Northwell Health System that connects CSHL scientists with clinicians and more than 16,000 cancer patients each year.
Leadership and Administration
Leadership
Director: David Tuveson, M.D., Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Administration: Lindsey Baker, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, DEI: Camila dos Santos, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Research: Adrian Krainer, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Operations: Nicholas Tonks, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Education, Lloyd Trotman, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Operations: Michael Lukey, Ph.D.
Administration
Assistant Director of Administration, Research: Katie Brenner
Assistant Director of Administration, Education and DEI: Jessica Peluso
Director, Clinical & Translational Collaborations at CSHL: Soma Prum
Director of Core Operations: Denise Roberts, Ph.D.
Coordinator: Kelly Lewis
Program leaders
Co-program leaders, Cancer Genetics and Genomics: Adam Siepel, Ph.D., Christopher Vakoc, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-program leaders, Cellular Communication in Cancer: Mikala Egeblad, Ph.D., Linda Van Aelst, Ph.D.
Co-program leaders, Gene Regulation and Inheritance: Leemor Joshua-Tor, Ph.D., Justin Kinney, Ph.D.
Cancer Center External Advisory Board
Marcia Cruz, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Gastrointestinal Oncology Division, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center
Chad Ellis, Ph.D.
Deputy Director for Research Administration, Hillman Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Michael Kastan, M.D., Ph.D.
Executive Director, Duke Cancer Center
Richard Marais, Ph.D.
Director, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute
Elaine Mardis, Ph.D.
Co-Executive Director, The Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair of Genomic Medicine
Larry Norton, M.D.
Deputy Physician-in-Chief, Breast Cancer Programs
Medical Director, Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Dana Pe’er, Ph.D.
Scientific Director, The Alan and Sandra Gerry Metastasis and Tumor Ecosystems Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Ramon Parsons, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Kornelia Polyak, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Medical Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Martine Roussel, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Genetics and Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Reuben Shaw, Ph.D.
Director, Salk Institute Cancer Center
Robert Winn, M.D.
Director and Lipman Chair in Oncology, VCU Massey Cancer Center
Past Directors
Dr. James Watson
1987 – 1988
Dr. Richard Roberts
1988 – 1992
Dr. Bruce Stillman
1992 – 2016
Humans of Banbury: Interview with Marcus Goncalves
May 31, 2023
An interview with March 2023's "The Future of Investigational Medicine" meeting participant Marcus Goncalves, M.D., Ph.D.
Humans of Banbury: Interview with Naranjargal Dashdorj
May 12, 2023
An interview with March 2023's "The Future of Investigational Medicine" meeting participant Naranjargal Dashdorj, M.D., Ph.D.
Your diet is your future
May 3, 2023
In this video, CSHL Assistant Professor Semir Beyaz shows how what you eat continues to influence your health long after you’ve digested it.
Identifying cancer genes’ multiple personalities
April 10, 2023
The same genes can cause different subtypes of tumors. Now, CSHL can recreate them in the lab. The approach could lead to new cancer treatments.
Shrinking tumors with electricity
March 8, 2023
Step inside the lab of CSHL Associate Professor Jeremy C. Borniger, where he and his team are rewiring the nervous system to combat cancer cells.
The shocking new research making cancer nervous
March 8, 2023
Imagine an electronic device that can eliminate tumors. In our exclusive interview, Jeremy Borniger offers an inside look at this exciting new field.
CSHL to receive $2 million in federal budget for 2023
January 5, 2023
The money will help the Laboratory purchase new supercomputers and artificial intelligence equipment used in cancer research.
Unlocking cancer’s ancestry
December 27, 2022
New software may help reveal the complete connections between ancestry and cancer, which could lead to better, more personalized treatments.
David Tuveson wins 2022 Luminary Award
November 17, 2022
The award, presented on World Pancreatic Cancer Day, honors Tuveson for his efforts to find a cure and improve patients’ lives.
David Tuveson elected to National Academy of Medicine
October 17, 2022
Tuveson was recognized for his pioneering cancer organoid research that led to the development of the first mouse models for pancreatic cancer.
A universal cancer treatment?
October 13, 2022
A medicine that disrupts the DNA replication of cancer cells may be within reach.
Tree lighting for pediatric cancer awareness
September 30, 2022
CSHL researchers and local donors came together for the first annual tree lighting ceremony to commemorate Pediatric Cancer Research Awareness Month.
Immunologist Peter Westcott joins CSHL faculty
September 12, 2022
The Westcott lab explores how the immune system shapes tumor evolution, with the goal of developing new cancer immunotherapies.
Cancer has a lot of nerve
August 22, 2022
Tumors recruit the nervous system to help them spread. Scientists are looking for ways to stop it.
CSHL helps raise funds to support cancer research
August 5, 2022
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory swimmers and volunteers joined with Team Carolyn to raise funds for Swim Across America.
Tobias Janowitz leads new, global Cancer Grand Challenges team
June 16, 2022
Janowitz received a $25 million grant to take on cachexia. This debilitating condition is responsible for up to 30% of cancer-related deaths.
President’s essay: Foundations for the future
May 25, 2022
Strategically designed to spark scientific exchange and inspiration, CSHL is a unique research and education environment for advancing science.
Copper, cancer, and COVID-19: The story of an idea, a meeting, and a paper
March 4, 2022
The Copper Cancer Consortium started as a new treatment concept and is now a published paper. Read the story of Banbury's last meeting before COVID.
Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation gives $100,000
January 26, 2022
Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation has donated $100,000 to CSHL’s cancer genetics research program.
The Darlene Carbone Brain Tumor Foundation donates $25,000 to CSHL
January 24, 2022
The Darlene Carbone Brain Tumor Foundation donates $25,000 to Dr. Alea Mills lab for glioblastoma research.
$3 Million gift from longtime benefactor Edith Seligson
January 20, 2022
CSHL announces a $3 million gift from longtime benefactor Edith Seligson to name the Alan and Edith Seligson Professor of Cancer Research.
Obscure protein is spotlighted in fight against leukemia
January 11, 2022
CSHL scientists find that a protein previously unknown to cancer researchers may hold the key to targeting acute myeloid leukemia.
Corina Amor joins CSHL faculty
January 7, 2022
Corina Amor is the newest fellow at CSHL. She studies immunology and aging.
Three Strohm Sisters Family Foundation donates $20,000 to CSHL
December 16, 2021
The Three Strohm Sisters Family Foundation donated $20,000 for cancer research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
In breast cancer, the best defense is a strong offense
December 7, 2021
CSHL cancer researchers revealed how the immune system prepares to combat breast cells that may turn cancerous after a pregnancy.
Exploiting cancer’s sweet tooth
October 25, 2021
Sugar addiction is a weakness for cancer cells, especially if they have only one method to get what they need.
CSHL receives 2021 NCI grant of $4.5 million
October 1, 2021
The National Cancer Institute renewed its Basic Laboratory Cancer Center grant for CSHL, marking 34 years of our continued progress in cancer research.
Mestag, co-founded by CSHL prof, named leading new biotech
September 27, 2021
Fierce Biotech named Mestag Therapeutics, co-founded by CSHL Professor David Tuveson, a 2021 “Fierce 15” leader in the biotech and pharma business.
Frontiers of cancer research quiz
September 24, 2021
Test your knowledge of the newest developments in cancer research with some science trivia.
Immune cells versus metastatic tumor cells
September 2, 2021
Macrophages help the immune system defend the body from bacteria. They can be reprogrammed to destroy cancer cells.
CSHL organoid facility: Cancer custodians
July 2, 2021
To beat our worst enemy, we must first let it grow.
Research matters
June 8, 2021
Innovative research and educational activities never stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When cancer cells “put all their eggs in one basket”
May 27, 2021
CSHL researchers uncover a weakness in acute myeloid leukemia cells that can be targeted by cancer drugs.
$11 million investment to develop fibroblast therapeutic
April 26, 2021
CSHL Professor David Tuveson and other leading disease experts founded a company to target fibroblasts as a new way to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases.
Dr. David Tuveson inaugurated as AACR president
April 21, 2021
CSHL Cancer Center Director David Tuveson is leading the American Association for Cancer Research.
CSHL faculty Endeavor Awards: Cancer changes the whole body
January 6, 2021
Tobias Janowitz and Semir Beyaz won the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research’s first Endeavor Award for studying cancer as a whole body phenomenon.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Science is hope
December 21, 2020
The Laboratory is a leading research center for genetics, cancer, plant biology, quantitative biology, and neuroscience.
CSHL’s new organoid facility
November 5, 2020
The 2,200 square foot facility will make and maintain hundreds of live tissue models grown from patient tumors.
Giving the immune system a double boost against cancer
October 30, 2020
Immunotherapy enhances the body’s own defenses to kill cancer. A new regimen may increase the utility of these types of drugs.
Masthead Cove Yacht Club raises $5,000 for cancer research
October 19, 2020
The Masthead Cove Yacht Club raised $5,000 to support cancer research at CSHL from their annual race.
New genetic research to understand racial disparity in cancers
September 8, 2020
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory will study the genetic contributions of ethnicity to colon, endometrial, and pancreas cancers in African Americans.
Why we’re a lot better at fighting cancer than we realized
August 12, 2020
Using data mining techniques, doctors have discovered dozens of anti-tumor drugs hiding in plain sight.
Live @ the Lab with David Tuveson: Studying pancreatic cancer
July 29, 2020
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center Director Dave Tuveson presents an exciting new model for studying pancreatic cancer.
Cancer researchers discuss COVID-19’s effect on the field
July 27, 2020
Dr. David Tuveson and Dr. Tobias Janowitz discuss in Cancer Discovery how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed cancer research.
The first mouse model of human pancreas cancer subtypes
July 23, 2020
CSHL researchers discovered how slow-growing pancreatic tumors can switch into a more deadly sub-type.
How breast cancer cells sneak past local immune defenses
July 15, 2020
Breast cancer cells sabotage nearby immune cells to evade detection and destruction by the body’s defenses.
Blocking cholesterol storage could stop growth of pancreatic tumors
July 7, 2020
Interfering with the way pancreatic cancer cells process and store cholesterol can stop a tumor from growing.
Applying symptom tracking to COVID-19 outpatient care using famotidine
June 4, 2020
Researchers from CSHL and Northwell Health are developing a way to test promising COVID-19 drugs, like famotidine, by tracking outpatient symptoms.
Pregnancy reprograms breast cells, reducing cancer risk
May 27, 2020
CSHL researchers discovered that pregnancy reprograms breast cells, reducing the risk of breast cancer in women under 25.
Why pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is so lethal
May 19, 2020
CSHL researchers discovered factors that allow a pancreatic cell to lose its identity and turn into an aggressive cancer cell.
Tuveson and Wigler elected AACR Academy Fellows
May 12, 2020
CSHL Cancer Center Director David Tuveson and Professor Michael Wigler were chosen as 2020 Fellows of the AACR Academy.
What do these scientist moms do? Ask their kids.
May 8, 2020
We asked the children of three scientists to describe their mother’s work. See what they had to say.
David Tuveson named President-Elect of AACR
April 21, 2020
CSHL Cancer Center Director David Tuveson has been elected President-Elect of the American Association for Cancer Research.
New faculty Jeff Boyd studies breast cancer genomics
March 26, 2020
Professor Jeff Boyd joins the CSHL faculty, studying the growth and spread of breast cancer.
Christina Renna Foundation donates $38k to study sarcoma
February 27, 2020
The Christina Renna Foundation donated $38,000 to the lab of Professor Chris Vakoc.
CSHL Cancer Center joins the AACI
January 10, 2020
The CSHL Cancer Center becomes the 100th member of the Association of American Cancer Institutes.
Mikala Egeblad wins Marks Foundation ASPIRE Award
December 20, 2019
Associate Professor Mikala Egeblad received the ASPIRE award to fund research understanding the relationship between stress and metastasis.
Ann Lin named in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2020
December 16, 2019
Ann Lin, a former intern in CSHL Fellow Jason Sheltzer’s lab, has been named a top entrepreneur on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Researchers identify gene behind spread of deadly breast cancer
December 9, 2019
Jackson Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory researchers uncovered novel targets for therapies related to deadly triple negative breast cancers.
CSHL wins TD Ready Challenge grant for organoid facility
December 3, 2019
CSHL is one of the recipients of the TD Ready Challenge grant to help support the upcoming organoid facility.
Fresh insights into prostate cancer surprise Movember crowd
November 22, 2019
For a special “Movember” edition of Cocktails and Chromosomes, Dr. Lloyd Trotman explained what his lab is doing to understand deadly prostate cancers.
Milestone reached in new leukemia drug
November 19, 2019
Salt-Inducible Kinase 3 (SIK3) could be a good therapeutic candidate for treating MLL translocation positive subtype of leukemia.
Adrian Krainer wins Zülch Prize for lifesaving SMA Treatment
October 8, 2019
Professor Adrian Krainer is awarded the K-J. Zülch Prize for the development and testing of a first-of-its-kind treatment for spinal muscular atrophy.
Discovery could improve MDS cancer treatment
September 25, 2019
Researchers have discovered a promising new target for treating myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a common and lethal blood cancer.
Cancer drugs don’t always work as intended, researchers warn
September 11, 2019
Ten experimental cancer drugs kill tumors in ways that are entirely different than how clinicians thought they did, revealing important insights.
Overcoming resistance in pancreatic cancer
September 9, 2019
Controlling pancreatic tumor proliferation by targeting malignancy-specific resistance pathways in response to AKT and MAPK blockade.
How a lab and its model animals changed science
August 13, 2019
The natural history of science at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory through the lens of animal research.
Understanding pregnancy’s effects on breast cancer risk
August 13, 2019
CSHL researchers authored a review in the journal Cell covering the landscape of breast cancer research.
Of mice and model organisms
July 31, 2019
An in-depth look at how veterinarians at CSHL help take care of the various organisms that help researchers answer fundamental biological questions.
Sheltzer wins Presidential Early Career Award
July 9, 2019
CSHL Fellow Jason Sheltzer is a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for his work in cancer research.
Cancer cells’ “self eating” may be new drug target
July 1, 2019
Researchers reveal how pancreatic cancer cells adapt to the low energy environment of a tumor.
Cancer cell’s “self eating” tactic may be its weakness
July 1, 2019
Pancreatic cancer cells are eating their own mitochondria to survive and spread. New research reveals how, hinting at a possible new drug target.
Sugars that coat proteins are a possible drug target for pancreatitis
June 20, 2019
CA19-9, a complex sugar structure coating proteins, represents a possible drug target for treatment of pancreatitis and prevention of pancreatic cancer.
Can these sugars serve as a possible drug target for pancreatitis?
June 20, 2019
CSHL Tuveson lab member Dani Engle explains how sugars serve as a possible drug target for pancreatitis.
Special fibroblasts help pancreatic cancer cells evade immune detection
June 13, 2019
Researchers found a specific type of cancer-associated fibroblast interacts with the immune system to help pancreatic cancer cells stay under the radar.
Fighting cancer in 3D
June 7, 2019
David Tuveson, Director of the CSHL Cancer Center, shares insights about his work on organoid technology.
Enzyme PHLPP2 could be a viable drug target for treating prostate cancer
May 15, 2019
Researchers have identified an enzyme called Phlpp2 as an attractive drug target for treating prostate cancer.
CSHL President elected as AACR Academy Fellow
March 25, 2019
CSHL President and CEO Dr. Bruce Stillman has been elected to the AACR Academy as part of the 2019 Fellows class.
What does sight mean to a cancer researcher?
February 26, 2019
Postdoc Leah Banks discusses vision’s role in cancer research, and how nearly losing her sight gave her a new perspective on her work.
Christina Renna Foundation gives $35k for pediatric cancer research
February 7, 2019
The Christina Renna Foundation donated $35,000 to CSHL for continued work on Sarcoma Research Project and research into RMS.
CSHL Scientific Advisory Council member wins Vilcek Prize
February 7, 2019
Dr. Angelika Amon, a member of the CSHL Scientific Advisory Council, wins the Vilcek Foundation Prize for her important work in cell biology.
CSHL Fellow Jason Sheltzer wins innovation award
January 25, 2019
CSHL Fellow Jason Sheltzer wins the Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award for his work on cancer.
The year of CRISPR
December 26, 2018
A look at the various labs across CSHL that utilize CRISPR in their research, and the groundbreaking discoveries they help uncover.
Three Strohm Sisters funds ongoing cancer research
December 19, 2018
The Three Strohm Sisters Family Foundation donated $5,000 to Associate Professor Mikala Egeblad’s for her continued research.
Katie Oppo fund donates $75k to ovarian cancer research
December 11, 2018
The Katie Oppo Research Fund gave $75,000 to Mikala Egeblad's lab for ovarian cancer research.
Taking uncertainty out of cancer prognosis
December 11, 2018
An analysis of 20,000 patients has revealed that copy number variations in specific gene sites can help predict how deadly a cancer will be.
Taking uncertainty out of cancer prognosis
December 11, 2018
CSHL Fellow Jason Sheltzer has analyzed nearly 20,000 cancer patient histories and genetic data to take the guesswork out of prognosis.
Women’s coalition donates $100k to breast cancer research
December 6, 2018
Members of the Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer supported research through a donation from the Ladies Night Out fundraiser.
Inconspicuous protein key to deadly blood cancer
November 29, 2018
Researchers have revealed the remarkably common protein behind an aggressive blood cancer’s drivers. By taking it away, the disease collapses.
Yacht race raises $6,500 for cancer research
November 29, 2018
The Masthead Cove Yacht Club raised $6,500 from their annual race, which will fund cancer research.
Inconspicuous protein key to deadly blood cancer
November 29, 2018
Associate Professor Chris Vakoc and his team find that an aggressive type of leukemia is heavily-dependent on a common protein.
Pancreatic cancer’s addiction could be its end
November 15, 2018
Researchers have discovered that an inappropriately-produced protein may be why some pancreatic cancer patients die exceptionally early.
Pancreatic cancer’s addiction could be its end
November 13, 2018
Researchers may have found a link between improper protein production and the spread of pancreatic cancer.
Turning cells against pancreatic cancer
November 2, 2018
Researchers have identified the special signals that encourage normal cells to either help protect pancreatic cancer, or—ideally—hinder it.
Turning cells against pancreatic cancer
October 26, 2018
Researchers have found a way to turn cancer-supporting cells into cells that restrict the cancerous growth in the pancreas.
Cancer research from a different perspective
October 3, 2018
CSHL Assistant Professor Tobias Janowitz discusses his patient-centric approach to studying cancer
How a sleeping cancer awakens and metastasizes
September 27, 2018
Chronic inflammation can reawaken dormant cancer cells and spur metastasis. It may be preventable
Tweaking cells’ gatekeepers could lead to new way to fight cancer
September 18, 2018
Salk scientists develop method to manipulate numbers of nuclear pores.
Mass. General team finds how NF-2 gene mutations make cells hyper-responsive to growth factor signaling
August 28, 2018
MGH Cancer Center researchers have determined one way that mutations in a gene involved in rare, hereditary cancer syndrome lead to out-of-control cel
Massive genome havoc in breast cancer is revealed
July 12, 2018
Researchers have made a highly detailed map of 20,000 structural variations in a cancer cell’s genome
Director, David Tuveson, M.D., Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Research, Adrian Krainer, Ph.D.
Cancer researchers at CSHL are using cutting-edge technology in innovative and collaborative studies to explore the basic biology underlying the disease. Our research can be divided into three main focus areas:
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Cancer Genetics and Genomics |
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Cellular Communication in Cancer |
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Gene Regulation and Inheritance |
The CSHL Cancer Center has long been a leader in basic research, exploring the fundamental pathways and molecules that enable life. Now, Cancer Center researchers are applying these groundbreaking discoveries to the development of new treatments and better diagnostics for cancer.
While maintaining its focus on exceptional basic science, the CSHL Cancer Center is also expanding translational research. The Lab has partnered with a leading healthcare system to increase preclinical research at the Lab and facilitate clinical trials based on basic science discoveries. At the same time, the next generation of doctors can experience basic research firsthand through translational training opportunities in the CSHL Cancer Center that are designed to bridge the gap between the lab and the clinic. The Cancer Center benefits from a Translational Advisory Group to facilitate the translation of basic science discoveries in the clinic.
Translational Advisory Group
Jeff Boyd, Ph.D. (chair)
CSHL Professor
Chief Scientific Officer, Northwell Health Cancer InstituteRichard Barakat, M.D.
Director, Northwell Health Cancer Institute
CSHL Cancer Center Affiliate Member
James Crawford, M.D., Ph.D.
Chair, Pathology, Northwell Health Cancer Institute
CSHL Cancer Center Affiliate Member
Noah Kauff, M.D.
Chief, Cancer Genetics, Northwell Health Cancer Institute
CSHL Cancer Center Affiliate Member
Adrian Krainer, Ph.D.
CSHL Professor
Deputy Director, Research, CSHL Cancer Center
Louis Potters, M.D.
Director, Radiation Oncology, Northwell Health Cancer Institute
CSHL Cancer Center Affiliate Member
Wasif Saif, M.D.
Director, Medical Oncology, Northwell Health Cancer Institute
CSHL Cancer Center Affiliate Member
Matthew Weiss, M.D.
Director, Surgical Oncology, Northwell Health Cancer Institute
CSHL Cancer Center Affiliate Member

Corina Amor Vegas
As we age our body accumulates damaged “senescent” cells that our immune system is no longer able to effectively eliminate. Senescent cells are responsible for the development of aging and age-related diseases like cancer or fibrosis. My group studies how senescent cells evade the immune system thereby identifying new therapeutic approaches.

Semir Beyaz
Are you really what you eat? Our goal is to uncover the precise mechanisms that link nutrition to organismal health and disease states at the cellular and molecular level. A particular focus in our lab is to understand how dietary perturbations affect the immune system and contribute to the risk of diseases that are associated with immune dysfunction such as cancer.

Jeremy C. Borniger
Patients with cancer frequently experience debilitating symptoms that can impair quality of life and reduce odds of survival. These include drastic changes in appetite, sleep/wake cycles, cognitive function, and pain, among others. Our lab aims to uncover mechanistic interactions between the brain and cancer that drive these phenomena. Reciprocally, we investigate how manipulation of specific brain circuits influences cancer processes in the body.

Jeff Boyd
My research interests are in the molecular genetics, genetics, and genomics of gynecologic and breast cancers. Currently I am focused on the early natural histories of ovarian carcinoma and metastatic breast cancer, the genomics of ovarian cancer stem/progenitor cells, and the hypothesis that most breast cancers result from polygenic susceptibility.

Nyasha Chambwe
My research focuses on identifying the genetic and molecular features of cancers that differ across racial and ethnic groups, and the extent to which these differences reveal or explain race and ethnicity-based cancer health disparities.

Kenneth Chang
RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR are widely used to functionally investigate mammalian genomes. It is our goal to develop and optimize these gene perturbation platforms to improve their effectiveness in understanding the biology of diseases.

Paolo Cifani
We develop innovative mass spectrometry-based approaches to measure how protein activities are regulated under physiologic conditions and in pathological states.

Alexander Dobin
Next generation sequencing technologies revolutionized many areas of genetics and molecular biology, enabling quantitative analyses of the entire genomes and paving the way for Personalized Medicine. We develop novel statistical methods and computational algorithms for multi-omics processing and integration, and leverage Big Genomic Data to elucidate various problems in precision health, such as genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of cancer development and progression, and clinical impact of functional variants.

Camila dos Santos
Among the changes that occur during pregnancy, those affecting the breasts have been found to subsequently modify breast cancer risk. My laboratory investigates how the signals present during pregnancy permanently alter the way gene expression is controlled and how these changes affect normal and malignant mammary development.

Mikala Egeblad
Cancer cells are surrounded by immune cells, blood vessels, chemical signals and a support matrix—collectively, the tumor microenvironment. Most microenvironments help tumors grow and metastasize, but some can restrict tumors. My lab studies how to target the bad microenvironments and support the good ones to combat cancer.

Douglas Fearon
I’m studying how to harness the power of the immune system to fight cancer. Our underlying premise is that the microenvironment within a tumor suppresses the immune system. We have found a way to eliminate this suppression in the mouse model of pancreatic cancer, which has led to development of a drug for human pancreatic cancer that will enter phase 1 clinical trials in 2015.

Molly Gale Hammell
To ensure that cells function normally, tens of thousands of genes must be turned on or off together. To do this, regulatory molecules—transcription factors and non-coding RNAs—simultaneously control hundreds of genes. My group studies how the resulting gene networks function and how they can be compromised in aging associated diseases, such as neurodegeneration and cancer.

Thomas Gingeras
Only a small portion of the RNAs encoded in any genome are used to make proteins. My lab investigates what these noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) do within and outside of cells, where regulators of their expression are located in the genome. This is particularly important in cancer. Our laboratory works on endometrial cancer and its relationship to age and obesity.

Christopher Hammell
As organisms develop, genes turn on and off with a precise order and timing, much like the order and duration of notes in a song. My group uses model organisms to understand the molecules that control the tempo of development. We also study how changes in the timing of gene expression contribute to diseases like cancer.

Tobias Janowitz
Cancer is a systemic disease. Using both laboratory and clinical research, my group investigates the connections between metabolism, endocrinology, and immunology to discover how the body’s response to a tumor can be used to improve treatment for patients with cancer.

Leemor Joshua-Tor
Our cells depend on thousands of proteins and nucleic acids that function as tiny machines: molecules that build, fold, cut, destroy, and transport all of the molecules essential for life. My group is discovering how these molecular machines work, looking at interactions between individual atoms to understand how they activate gene expression, DNA replication, and small RNA biology.

Justin Kinney
Research in the Kinney Lab combines mathematical theory, machine learning, and experiments in an effort to illuminate how cells control their genes. These efforts are advancing the fundamental understanding of biology and biophysics, as well as accelerating the discovery of new treatments for cancer and other diseases.

Peter Koo
Deep learning has the potential to make a significant impact in basic biology and cancer, but a major challenge is understanding the reasons behind their predictions. My research develops methods to interpret this powerful class of black box models, with a goal of elucidating data-driven insights into the underlying mechanisms of sequence-function relationships.

Adrian R. Krainer
Our DNA carries the instructions to manufacture all the molecules needed by a cell. After each gene is copied from DNA into RNA, the RNA message is "spliced" - an editing process involving precise cutting and pasting. I am interested in how splicing normally works, how it is altered in genetic diseases and cancer, and how we can correct these defects for therapy.

Alexander Krasnitz
Many types of cancer display bewildering intra-tumor heterogeneity on a cellular and molecular level, with aggressive malignant cell populations found alongside normal tissue and infiltrating immune cells. I am developing mathematical and statistical tools to disentangle tumor cell population structure, enabling an earlier and more accurate diagnosis of the disease and better-informed clinical decisions.

Dan Levy
We have recently come to appreciate that many unrelated diseases, such as autism, congenital heart disease and cancer, are derived from rare and unique mutations, many of which are not inherited but instead occur spontaneously. I am generating algorithms to analyze massive datasets comprising thousands of affected families to identify disease-causing mutations.

Michael Lukey
Tumor growth depends upon cancer cells acquiring nutrients from their environment and using these molecules to fuel proliferation. My group studies the nature and regulation of metabolic adaptation during tumorigenesis and metastasis, with the intention of identifying metabolic vulnerabilities that can be targeted for cancer therapy.

Scott Lyons
I provide collaborative research support to CSHL researchers in the area of preclinical in vivo imaging. This includes access to a comprehensive range of imaging modalities, as well as provision of experimental guidance, training and imaging reagents. In addition, my lab develops new and impactful ways to image aspects of in vivo tumor biology that are broadly relevant to the development of new therapeutics and the research interests of the CSHL Cancer Center.

Rob Martienssen
Chromosomes are covered with chemical modifications that help control gene expression. I study this secondary genetic code - the epigenome - and how it is guided by small mobile RNAs in plants and fission yeast. Our discoveries impact plant breeding and human health, and we use this and other genomic information to improve aquatic plants as a source of bioenergy.

David McCandlish
Some mutations are harmful but others are benign. How can we predict the effects of mutations, both singly and in combination? Using data from experiments that simultaneously measure the effects of thousands of mutations, I develop computational tools to predict the functional impact of mutations and apply these tools to problems in protein design, molecular evolution, and cancer.

W. Richard McCombie
Over the last two decades, revolutionary improvements in DNA sequencing technology have made it faster, more accurate, and much cheaper. We are now able to sequence up to 10 trillion DNA letters in just one month. I harness these technological advancements to assemble genomes for a variety of organisms and probe the genetic basis of neurological disorders, including autism and schizophrenia, better understand cancer progression and understand the complex structures of the genomes of higher plants.

Hannah Meyer
A properly functioning immune system must be able to recognize diseased cells and foreign invaders among the multitude of healthy cells in the body. This ability is essential to both prevent autoimmune diseases and fight infections and cancer. We study how a specific type of immune cells, known as T cells, are educated to make this distinction during development.

Alea A. Mills
Cells employ stringent controls to ensure that genes are turned on and off at the correct time and place. Accurate gene expression relies on several levels of regulation, including how DNA and its associated molecules are packed together. I study the diseases arising from defects in these control systems, such as aging and cancer.

Lopa Mishra
My research focuses on the continuum of science-driven clinical care by working on novel therapies and improved clinical outcomes, honing liver disease, metabolism/alcohol, obesity/addiction gastrointestinal cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, and neural regulation of disease and cancer, which links to the field of bioelectronic medicine.

John Moses
My group uses click chemistry to study biological systems at the molecular level. We develop and exploit powerful bond-forming click reactions that enable the rapid synthesis of small functional molecules, including cancer drugs and chemical probes. We apply these novel molecular tools in multidisciplinary discovery projects spanning the fields of biology and chemistry.

Darryl Pappin
Our genome can encode hundreds of thousands of different proteins, the molecular machines that do the work that is the basis of life. I use proteomics, a combination of protein chemistry, mass spectrometry and informatics, to identify precisely which proteins are present in cells—cells from different tissues, developmental stages, and disease states such as cancer—and what has changed between these states.

Jon Preall
Developing single-cell genomics technologies for applications related to cancer progression, immune surveillance, and discovery of rare novel cell types and transcriptional programs.

Andrea Schorn
Transposable elements make up half of our DNA. They control gene expression and have been a major evolutionary force in all organisms. The Schorn lab investigates how small RNAs identify and silence transposable elements when they become active during development and cancer.

Adam Siepel
I am a computer scientist who is fascinated by the challenge of making sense of vast quantities of genetic data. My research group focuses in particular on questions involving molecular evolution and transcriptional regulation, with applications to cancer and other diseases as well as to plant breeding and agriculture.

David L. Spector
The immense amount of DNA, RNA and proteins that contribute to our genetic programs are precisely organized inside the cell's nucleus. My group studies how nuclear organization impacts gene regulation, and how misregulation of non-coding RNAs contributes to human diseases such as cancer.

Bruce Stillman
Every time a cell divides, it must accurately copy its DNA. With 3 billion “letters” in the human genome, this is no small task. My studies reveal the many steps and molecular actors involved, as well as how errors in DNA replication are involved in diseases that range from cancer to rare genetic disorders.

Nicholas Tonks
Cells must constantly react to what is happening around them, adapting to changes in neighboring cells or the environment. I study the signals that cells use to exchange information with their surroundings. Our group is finding drugs that target these signals and thus can treat diabetes, obesity, cancer, and autism spectrum disorders.

Kevin Tracey
The major focus of my research is the molecular basis of inflammation and identifying the mechanisms by which neurons control the immune system.

Lloyd Trotman
We have recently developed the first genetic mouse model for therapy and analysis of metastatic prostate cancer. Now we can test if and how modern concepts of cancer evolution can outperform the 80-year-old standard of care- hormone deprivation therapy-and turn lethal prostate cancer into a curable disease.

David Tuveson
Pancreatic cancer is an extremely lethal malignancy. On average, patients who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer succumb to the disease within 6 months. Research is the only way to defeat pancreatic cancer. My lab is making progress toward finding a cure by detecting the disease earlier and designing novel therapeutic approaches.

Chris Vakoc
Cancer cells achieve their pathogenicity by changing which genes are on and off. To maintain these changes in gene expression, cancer cells rely on proteins that interact with DNA or modify chromatin. My group investigates how such factors sustain the aberrant capabilities of cancer cells, thereby identifying new therapeutic targets.

Linda Van Aelst
Normal cell function relies on coordinated communication between all the different parts of the cell. These communication signals control what a cell does, what shape it takes, and how it interacts with other cells. I study these signaling networks to understand how they guard against cancer and neurological disorders.

Peter Westcott
The mutational processes that drive cancer also expose it to the immune system. Therapies that invigorate anticancer immunity can be astonishingly effective, but only in a subset of patients. We are developing powerful new strategies to study how the immune system and cancer coevolve, with the goal of expanding the curative potential of immunotherapy to more patients.

Michael Wigler
Devastating diseases like cancer and autism can be caused by spontaneous changes to our DNA—mutations first appearing in the child, or in our tissues as we age. We are developing methods to discover these changes in individuals, tumors, and even single cells, to promote early detection and treatments

Johannes Yeh
Cells orchestrate proteins to conduct cell-cell communications and environment sensing in order to execute physiological functions. My lab investigates the mechanisms by which dysregulated signals cause diseases such as cancer, and we are developing therapeutics based on these mechanisms.

Lingbo Zhang
The research in the Zhang laboratory centers on normal and malignant stem and progenitor cells in the hematopoietic system and decodes the role of metabolites, including micronutrients and neurotransmitters, in the tumor microenvironment and their genetic effectors in regulating hematologic malignancies. The ultimate goal is to understand how environmental signals such as diets and nervous system activities modulate development and cancers.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is an NCI-designated Cancer Center. As a basic research institution, CSHL does not treat patients. Information about individual cancers is available at the NCI CancerNet. Questions about CSHL’s cancer research program should be directed to our Communications Department.