Immunogenomics platform for the analysis of cancer

ABSTRACT The goal of this proposal is to provide support for my main roles as a Laboratory-based Research Specialist in my Unit Director Dr. Timothy Chan’s research program and as the director of the Computational Immunogenomics Platform (IGP) towards successful fulfillment of NCI-funded projects and programs. My

primary role is focused on computational analysis of various cancer patient-derived Next Generation sequencing (NGS) datasets to advance the field of immunogenomics and precision oncology. For the Unit Director’s laboratory, which is primarily driven by NCI-funded research programs, I am the essential driver of all

computational efforts to leverage cancer and immunogenomics to address critical translational questions. In the past decade, the Unit Director and I have pioneered computational frameworks to delineate the molecular drivers of immunotherapy efficacy in patients across various malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer and

melanoma. Our discoveries have led to the first tumor type-agnostic FDA approval of pembrolizumab in cancer patients with unresectable or metastatic tumors with high tumor mutation burden or microsatellite instability. My personal ambition is to continue to create deep impact on the lives of cancer patients by pushing technological

advances in genomics to the clinical setting, which aligns effectively with the goals of my Unit Director and collaborators. My 20-years of experience in bioinformatics-based research also has allowed me to be a successful leader and director of the IGP, a team of dynamic and talented computational biologists that provide

collaborative research support for scientists and clinicians in the broader community of the Cleveland Clinic. My career goals are to (a) ultimately foster more independence as a collaborative Laboratory-based Research Specialist for the NCI-funded research projects of my Unit Director and collaborators; (b) leverage genomics to

improve our understanding of tumor immunity; (c) continually advance IGP and continue to create cutting edge immunogenomics algorithms and tools; (d) make computational biology tools more accessible to the broader scientific community through workshops & courses; (e) enable other scientists and clinicians to perform the best

science possible and helping them to achieve their publication and funding goals; and (f) enrich my knowledge base and skills by attending scientific and medical conferences. The Research Specialist R50 Award will allow me to accomplish these personal ambitions and career goals, and benefit the NCI with the bioinformatics-based

support that I provide for NCI-funded projects to create a long-lasting and positive impact in the field of oncological research.