Our mentoring philosophy revolves around the idea that mentoring is a two-way relationship between a mentor and a mentee united in their commitment to achieve shared scientific and professional development goals with mutual respect, and to foster trust and effective feedback. The CCBM T32 program provides both mentors and mentees with tools such as Individual Development Plans, resources, and training to help maximize the effectiveness of this relationship. Additionally, we recognize that a single mentor is unlikely to be sufficient to address all the mentoring needs of our trainees. As such, we have built our program to include several important distinguishing features, such as Postdoctoral Mentoring Committees (PMCs). Each trainee assembles a PMC based on their individual training needs and professional goals. Importantly, we regularly seek feedback from our mentees about all aspects of scientific training as well as well-being, and use this information to continuously refine our curriculum and training activities to meet the most immediate training needs.
Taken together, our curriculum, IDPs, PMCs, resources, and feedback mechanisms are optimized to deliver a holistic and multi-pronged mentoring experience to our trainees.
Our Leadership Team is supported by an External Advisory Board and Training Oversight Committee. View more details about the Leadership Team here.
Current Mentors
Nathalie Agar, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Dr. Agar’s lab applies state-of-the-art mass spectrometry and optical imaging technologies for examining drug uptake and metabolism in tumors with unprecedented resolution.
Judith Agudo, PhD, Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology
Dr. Agudo has core research interests in identifying factors that control immune evasion of stem cells and cancer stem cells, and translating these insights into improved immunotherapy.
Haribabu Arthanari, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Dr. Arthanari has been developing advanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and other biophysical methods to characterize critical interactions between transcription factors and the general transcriptional machinery known to be dysregulated in cancer.
Bradley Bernstein, MD, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Dr. Bernstein’s lab pursues a systems-level, molecular understanding of chromatin structure and the epigenetic regulation of cellular states, and how these control systems misfunction in cancer.
Myles Brown, MD, Department of Medical Oncology
Dr. Brown and his trainees are interested in the molecular understanding of the action of steroid hormone receptors and their role in human cancer. They were the first to identify the p160 class of steroid receptor coactivators and to show that coregulators play an important role in the tissue and promoter selective action of steroid hormone receptors and their ligands. This work has important implications for understanding the mechanism of action of selective steroid receptor modulators such as SERMs. They were the first to define steroid receptor binding sites on a genome-wide scale using a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation and tiled microarrays, ChIP-chip. They are currently using ChIP-chip and ChIP-seq to define the epigenomic and cistromic changes that underlie the development of hormone independent cancer.
Lewis Cantley, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
The Cantley lab studies kinase signaling pathways, with a special interest in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and other lipid kinases.
Visit their website here.
Edward Chouchani, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Dr. Chouchani’s research interests center on identifying molecular targets of metabolic redox signaling especially in the context of mitochondrial control of physiologic processing, and using this information to develop targeted therapeutic strategies.
Nika Danial, PhD, CCBM Co-Director, Department of Cancer Biology
Nika Danial’s lab studies the molecular mechanisms and functional consequences of metabolic fuel choice in cell fate and function. This line of investigation has led to the discovery of biochemical links between glucose metabolism and cell survival pathways, as well as metabolic control of normal and tumorigenic growth. More recently, the lab has begun to characterize the molecular determinants of mitochondrial specializations, nutrient preferences, and metabolic heterogeneity in B-cell receptor (BCR)-dependent vs independent subtypes of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). This research has revealed that BCR-DLBCLs have Warburg-type metabolic characteristics and rely on glycolysis, while OxPhos-DLBCLs rely on mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation for survival independent of BCR signaling. Importantly, these metabolic distinctions are associated with DLBCL subtype-selective targetable vulnerabilities. Additional efforts are focused on understanding the relevance of OxPhos-type metabolic pathways as a resistance mechanism to small molecule inhibitors of BCR signaling. Dr. Danial has long-standing collaborations with Drs. Shipp and Walensky.
Stephanie Dougan, PhD, Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology
Dr. Dougan’s lab focuses on mouse models of immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer.
Benjamin Ebert, MD, PhD, Department of Medical Oncology
Benjamin Ebert’s lab studies the molecular basis and treatment of hematologic malignancies, with a particular focus on myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The Ebert lab elucidated the mechanism of action of lenalidomide and related drugs, showing that they exert their effects by modulating the function of an E3 ubiquitin ligase, inducing drug-dependent degradation of specific substrates that are essential for the survival of multiple myeloma and MDS cells. This represents the first class of drugs that bind and modulate the function of an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Dr. Ebert has ongoing collaborations with Drs. Fischer, Qi and Steamier.
Michael Eck, MD, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Dr. Eck and his trainees define molecular interactions that regulate intracellular signaling and rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. They use biochemical and structural methods (primarily X-ray crystallography) to understand how complex multi-domain proteins are inhibited and activated by their networks of interactions within the cell. They are especially interested in determining the structure of aberrant signaling proteins and complexes that underlie cancer, and in using structural approaches to facilitate development of anti-cancer drugs. Trainees in the group learn to apply biophysical and biochemical methods to problems of central importance in cancer biology.
Mariella Filbin, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatric Oncology
The Filbin lab studies pediatric brain tumors, particularly the lethal high-grade gliomas. The lab aims to identify new druggable targets by combining single-cell genetics and transcriptomics with gene editing-, epigenetic-, stem cell- and pharmacologic methods.
Learn more here.
Eric Fischer, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Eric Fischer’s lab focuses on the role of ubiquitination in development and cancer, with special focus on developing novel pharmacologic strategies to target the ubiquitin machinery. The lab combines structural biology, cell biology, proteomics and chemical biology to address the molecular workings of ubiquitin E3 ligase complexes such as CRL4CRBN, and has developed novel mass spectrometry approaches for proteome-wide E3 ligase screens to enable rapid development of degrader molecules (PROTACs). Dr. Fischer collaborates closely with Drs. Gray, Buhrlage, Ebert, Jänne, Kaelin, Livingston, Stegmaier, Qi, Chouchani and Kim. Drs. Chouchani is a co-mentor on this training grant application.
Xin Gu, PhD, Co-Mentor, Department of Cancer Biology
Dr. Gu studies how cells regulate proteasomal degradation independently of ubiquitination. The Gu lab is also interested in the crosstalk of protein homeostasis with chromatin biology and metabolism in cancer.
Visit their website here.
Kevin Haigis, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Dr. Haigis’ lab has a long-standing interest in understanding the mechanisms underlying distinct and context-specific functions of mutant K-Ras alleles and allele-specific therapeutic targeting mechanisms.
Cigall Kadoch, PhD, Department of Pediatric Oncology
Cigall Kadoch’s lab focuses on dissecting the mechanism and structures of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in general and the mammalian SWI/SNF (BAF) ATP-dependent complex in particular. BAF complexes can both suppress or promote tumorigenic growth, and the Kadoch lab is employing a range of genetic, molecular, structural and chemical biology strategies to dissect these functions, with special focus on synovial sarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumors.
William G. Kaelin, Jr., MD, Department of Molecular Oncology
The Kaelin laboratory studies tumor suppressor genes and the normal functions of the proteins they encode. The long-term goal of this work is to lay the foundation for the development of new anticancer therapies based on the functions of specific tumor suppressor proteins.
Amy Si-Ying Lee, PhD, Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology
The Lee Lab studies how cells sense and respond to environmental signals by modulating protein synthesis. Specifically, the lab’s research is focused on discovering mechanisms regulating specialized mRNA translation and how these pathways are controlled during organismal development, viral infection, and cellular stress.
Evanna Mills, PhD, Department of Immunology and Virology
The Mills lab studies the interplay between metabolite signaling and innate immune cell function in models of sterile and classical inflammatory disease. They use small molecule mass spectrometry in combination with biochemical and physiological assessments to understand metabolite signaling at the cellular and whole-body level.
Nicholas Polizzi, PhD, Co-mentor, Department of Cancer Biology
The Polizzi lab develops computational de novo protein design methods that they use to create new-to-nature small molecule binding proteins. They further develop these designed proteins into tools for biology, e.g., for metabolite sensing, proteome editing, and genetic-code expansion.
Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD, Department of Medical Oncology
The Polyak lad is dedicated to the molecular analysis of human breast cancer. Their overarching goals are to better understand the molecular evolution of human breast tumors, and use this knowledge to improve the clinical management of breast cancer patients.
Pere Puigserver, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
The Puigserver’s lab investigates broad aspects of fundamental metabolic and energetic processes in mammals that are necessary for cell survival and specific biological function. They focus on the molecular mechanisms by which mammalian cells sense, communicate, and respond to nutrients.
Jun Qi, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
The Qi lab is developing chemical biology ane medicinal chemistry strategies to target proteins involved in epigenetic regulation.
Visit their website here.
Thomas M. Roberts, PhD, CCBM Co-Director, Department of Cancer Biology
Dr. Roberts’s research interests center on signaling mechanisms and cancer. The lab investigates the mechanisms underlying lipid kinase regulation of tumor growth, which has facilitated the drug development program that led to Gleevec, the first targeted therapeutics approved for cancer treatment. Most recently, the lab has focused on the interplay between PTEN loss and PI3Kp110β activation in tumors, understanding the distinct metabolic signatures of tumors that are selectively dependent on specific PI3K isoforms and investigating the roles of PI3K in immunotherapy.
Rosalind Segal, MD, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
The Segal’s lab studies how extracellular cues regulate neural cells both during development and in tumorigenic growth and has a related interest in understanding chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) on a molecular and metabolic level.
Margaret Shipp, MD, Department of Medical Oncology
Margaret Shipp’s lab is focused on molecular signatures of aggressive B-cell malignancies and associated rational therapeutic targets with a growing interest in immunotherapy and the genetic bases of immune evasion in these cancers. In other work, the Shipp lab has a long-standing interest in linking genetic information to response to therapy and revealing the molecular basis for these links.
Bruce Spiegelman, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Bruce Spiegelman’s lab has helped define links between molecular metabolism and disease, with pioneering studies in adipose biology, obesity and inflammation. A recent focus of his lab has been on examining the role of phosphocreatine as a cellular source of phosphates that can replace ATP in protein kinases. Other research interests include the connection between obesity and cancer, as well as the metabolic basis of cachexia.
Zuzana Tothova, MD, PhD, Department of Medical Oncology
Zuzanna Tothova’s laboratory focuses on genetics and treatment of myeloid malignancies. Her group is interested in addressing how cohesin mutations promote clonal dominance and disease progression and investigating the possibility of selective targeting of cohesin-mutant cells to intercept disease progression.
Loren Walensky, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatric Oncology
Loren Walensky’s lab focuses on developing novel strategies to target and interrogate deregulated apoptotic and transcriptional pathways in cancer. The lab has pioneered the use of peptide stapling as a strategy to stabilize short, α-helix-forming peptides that can be used for targeting α-helix-mediated protein-protein interactions. This has enabled functional dissection and targeting of BCL-2 family and other oncogenic pathways and led to stapled peptides currently in Phase I and II clinical trials.
Learn more here.
Catherine Wu, MD, Department of Molecular Oncology
Catherine Wu’s research focuses on human immune responses directed at recognition and eradication of cancer. The lab pursues discovery and targeting of tumor antigens, development of personal neoantigen-targeting cancer vaccines, and performs comprehensive genomic dissection of malignant cells and pioneering computational tools for discovery of tumor-specific neoantigens.
Xin Zhou, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Dr. Zhou’ lab uses protein engineering to build artificial kinases and signaling cascades that can be used to study and control signaling in cancer cells and the TME. The lab is also using engineered protein systems to control the turnover of membrane proteins, and to build biosensors. Further interests include engineering strategies for extending efficacy and safety of CAR-T cells.
Jean Zhao, PhD, Department of Cancer Biology
Jean Zhao’s lab has long-standing interests in characterizing and targeting oncogenic signaling pathways in cancer. This research led to characterization of the functional distinctions in PI3K isoforms and made extensive contributions to targeting CDK4/6 in breast cancer. Most recently, the lab has investigated strategies to overcome drug resistance by combining targeted and immune therapies, understanding immune invasion in PTEN-deficient breast cancer, and the role of STING and STING agonists in overcoming drug resistance to targeted therapies.
Former Mentors
We are grateful to the former mentors who contributed to the CCBM program during the previous funding period:
- Stephen Blacklow, MD, PhD, Chair, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School
- Sara Buhrlage, PhD, Associate Professor, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
- Pasi Jänne, now Senior Vice President for Translational Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Justin Kim, PhD, now Associate Professor at Georgia Tech
- Julie Losman, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Jarrod Marto, PhD, now Professor of Chemistry, University of Virginia
- Matthew L. Meyerson, MD, PhD, Professor of Genetics and Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
- William Shih, Professor, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
- Peter Sicinski, MD, PhD, Professor of Genetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
- Kimberly Stegmaier, MD, now Chair, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute