Roel Verhaak, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Director of Computational Biology, The Florine Deschenes Roux Chair for Genomics and Computational Biology
Brain tumors, sequencing, computational biology
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Recent Tweets
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RT @theABTA: Can we count on your support for our 50th anniversary? We're raising $50 million to triple #BrainTumor research and discovery,… -
RT @roelverhaak: Just learned about a department only considering K99 or similar grantees for faculty positions. Insanity. When I was on th…
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@RongFan8 @Nature @YaleBme @YaleSEAS @YaleMed @GoCasteloBranco @karolinskainst Amazing work, Rong and team!
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RT @janiszewska_lab: Our first paper on glioblastoma genetic mosaicism linked to TME using FFPE & in situ methods is out today @CellReports…
We are a computational cancer biology lab with a research focus on the analysis of cancer genomics data to improve our understanding of cancer biology. We have a specialized research interest in understanding disease progression of brain tumors, and to study the role of extrachromosomal DNA amplifications in cancer. Our group combines wet lab approaches for functional modeling with large datasets and computational methods.
Education and experience
- 2006: PhD, Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
- 2000: MSc, Biomedical Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING:
- 2007-2010: Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Matthew Meyerson, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana- Farber Cancer Institute/Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge MA.
- 2006: Visiting Scientist, Laboratory of John Quackenbush. Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Boston, MA.
RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
- 2008-2010: Fundamental and pre-clinical fellowship, Dutch Cancer Society KWF
- 2006: Netherlands Genomics Initiative Fellowship
EXPERIENCE:
- 2016-current: Professor and associate director for computational biology, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT
- 2015-2016: Associate professor, Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (primary), Department of Genomic Medicine (affiliate), UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
- 2013-2015: Assistant professor, Department of Genomic Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
- 2010-2015: Assistant professor, Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
- 2010: Computational biologist, Laboratory of Matthew Meyerson, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA.
- 2006-2007: Research Scientist, Laboratory of Peter JM Valk, Department of Hematology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
- 2002-2003: Software engineer, Dalicon BV, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Honors and accomplishments
- 2016: Agilent Early Career Professor Award
- 2016: AAAS Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award
- 2015: Finalist, Robert M. Chamberlain Distinguished Mentor Award.
- 2014: Adult Basic Science Award, Society for Neuro-Oncology Meeting 2014
- 2013: Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Peter Steck Memorial Award
- 2011: Wilson S. Stone Memorial Award at MD Anderson's Symposia on Cancer Research
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Featured ArticleJune 28, 2022JAX Genomic Medicine is increasing the precision of brain cancer diagnoses
The new technique of methylome profiling, now available from The Jackson Laboratory, provides more precise tumor classification for cancers of the central nervous system (CNS). -
Research HighlightMay 31, 2022International research group is predicting glioma changes before recurrence
Roel Verhaak is leading an international group of clinicians and researchers, investigating why gliomas develop resistance and recur after initial therapies. -
Research HighlightNovember 25, 2021New insights into the biology of ecDNAs
Extrachromosomal DNA elements (ecDNAs) are frequently detected in cancer and drive activation of oncogenes (cancer-promoting genes) via increased gene expression. -
Research HighlightSeptember 30, 2021JAX research team examines how glioma cells handle stress
Gliomas, malignant brain tumors, are considered incurable by current science. What, then, makes them so adaptable and dangerous? A JAX research team featuring Kevin Johnson, Kevin Anderson, and Roel Verhaak use single-cell genetics to examine how gliomas handle stress so well.
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Press ReleaseJune 22, 2022JAXs Roel Verhaak joins global Cancer Grand Challenges team
Roel Verhaak has joined the global Cancer Grand Challenges team, receiving $25M to take on the challenge of extrachromosomal DNA. -
Featured ArticleDecember 07, 2021Roel Verhaak is closing the circle to improve brain cancer care
To improve glioma treatments, the tumors have to be attacked from every angle, and Roel Verhaak is working on multiple fronts to bring better care and outcomes to patients who now have nowhere to turn. -
Search MagazineOctober 19, 2021Five ways scientists are taking the fight to cancer
In this article, we examine the different ways cancer escalates the conflicts within our bodies, and how scientists are leveraging the incredible power of genetics and genomics to disarm it. -
Research HighlightMay 27, 2021Measuring the effects of radiotherapy on cancer may open up avenues for treatment
A team led by Roel Verhaak analyzed patient cancers before and after radiotherapy and found a deletion signature in many post-treatment samples. The finding indicates that combining radiotherapy with DNA repair inhibition may improve efficacy.