Research
The Bakhoum lab focuses on understanding the role of chromosomal instability (CIN) in tumor evolution. CIN is a hallmark of human cancer and it is associated with poor prognosis, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. It results from errors in chromosome segregation during mitosis, leading to structural and numerical chromosomal abnormalities. In addition to generating genomic heterogeneity that acts as a substrate for natural selection, CIN promotes inflammatory signaling by introducing genomic double-stranded DNA into the cytosol, engaging cytosolic DNA-sensing antiviral innate immune pathways. These multipronged effects distinguish CIN as a central driver of tumor evolution and as a genomic source for the crosstalk between the tumor and its microenvironment.
Figure 1
Current Projects:
- CIN in Cancer Metastasis
- CIN and Tumor Microenvironment
- Cellular Biology of Cytosolic DNA
Bio
- MD, Dartmouth Medical School
- PhD, Dartmouth College
- Radiation Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Distinctions
- Josie Robertson Investigator (2018-2023)
- AAAS Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award (Honorable mention)
- NIH Director’s Independence Award (2018-2023)
- Blavatnik Regional Award for Young Scientists (Finalist) (2018)
- Tri-Institutional Breakout Prize (2018)
- Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists (2018)
- NextGen Stars, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (2018)
- Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award, Department of Defense (2016)