Genetics, Epigenetics and Metabolism (GEM)
The goal of the Genetics, Epigenetics and Metabolism (GEM) program is to better understand the molecular and cell intrinsic processes that normally constrain cancer development, as well as cancer cell survival, evolution, and recurrence. The GEM program achieves this goal through fundamental research that addresses:
- The contribution of genetic and epigenetic disruption and altered gene regulatory mechanisms to cancer;
- The role of cellular and organismal aging in exposing new cellular vulnerabilities;
- The central role of metabolic dysregulation as a defining and exploitable feature of cancer cells.
The GEM program has three specific aims:
- To understand the mechanisms by which altered transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation contribute to aberrant cancer-cell programming.
- To elucidate the role of plasticity and aging in cancer development and disease trajectory.
- To define and exploit vulnerabilities brought about by oxidative stress and metabolic reprogramming.
GEM strives to work toward clinical translation through the development of preclinical models, the identification of novel biomarkers, and by informing early-phase therapeutic strategies and new clinical trials in collaboration with Wilmot’s Translational Research Groups. GEM has increasingly embraced principles of community-engaged research to guide its studies.
Program Leaders
Darren Carpizo, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Surgery/Oncology at the Wilmot Cancer Institute
Dr. Carpizo's interests include liver, pancreatic, and other gastrointestinal cancers and basic science in those areas that leads to clinical trials.
Paula Vertino, Ph.D.
Wilmot Distinguished Professor in Cancer Genomics and Senior Associate Dean for Basic Research at URMC.
Dr. Vertino’s interests are focused on cancer epigenetics and novel mechanisms of gene silencing in cancer.
Members
Brian Altman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Genetics
John Ashton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Genetics
Benoit Biteau, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Genetics
Paul L. Boutz, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Paul Brookes, Ph.D.
Professor, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Roman Eliseev, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Orthopaedics
Carol Fries Simpson, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics/Hematology Oncology
Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D.
Professor, Biology
Stephen Hammes, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Medicine/Endocrinology
Isaac Harris, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Genetics
Aram Hezel, M.D.
Professor, Medicine/Hematology Oncology
Clara Kielkopf, Ph.D.
Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Hartmut Land, Ph.D.
Professor, Biomedical Genetics
Lynne Maquat, Ph.D.
Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Matthew McCall, Ph.D., M.H.S.
Associate Professor, Biostatistics
Stephano Mello, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Genetics
Edward Messing, M.D.
Professor, Urology
Nimish Mohile, M.D.
Professor, Neurology
Josh Munger, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Patrick Murphy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Genetics
Mark Noble, Ph.D.
Professor, Biomedical Genetics
Mitch O'Connell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Catherine Ovitt, Ph.D.
Professor, Biomedical Genetics
Archibald Perkins, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Irfan Rahman, Ph.D.
Professor, Environmental Medicine
Marlies Rossmann, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Genetics
Andrei Seluanov, Ph.D.
Professor, Biology
Eric Wagner, Ph.D.
Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Shu-Yuan Yeh, Ph.D.
Professor, Urology
Yi-Tao Yu, Ph.D.
Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics