Genomics, Genetics, & Epigenetics

The mission of the Genomics, Genetics, and Epigenetics Program is to be a preeminent national and international hub for groundbreaking cancer genomic and genetic/epigenetic research by making field-changing discoveries, developing impactful novel analytical tools, and translating these discoveries into new therapies and diagnostic tests. Members of the Genomics, Genetics, and Epigenetics Program study all aspects of gene alterations in cancer with the goal of translating this knowledge into new drugs, novel therapeutic strategies, and novel diagnostic tests. These studies include the discovery of mutations in genes and DNA that cause cancer; analysis of genomic changes and their functional consequences on gene expression; characterization of mechanisms that control protein production from genes; epigenetics; protein structure; and the analysis of large scale genomic data.

The program has three major research themes: 1) identify and characterize genetic and epigenetic changes that drive cancer formation and progression; 2) develop new analytical tools, data resources, and novel laboratory models that enable genetically driven therapeutic approaches and diagnostic tests; and 3) translate the genomic and genetic/epigenetic discoveries into novel drugs and new diagnostic tests.

The goals of the Genomics, Genetics and Epigenetics Program are to:

1. Identify and characterize the function of genetic alterations and epigenetic changes that contribute to cancer development and progression.
2. Develop new analytical tools, data resources, and novel laboratory models that enable better characterization and understanding of the cancer genome.
3. Translate genomic observations into clinically useful diagnostic and prognostic tests, and develop new therapies that exploit genetic and epigenetic alterations in cancer.