William A. Flavahan, PhD

Research Focus - Epigenetics and Chromatin Topology in Cancer

Identify epigenetic driver lesions in cancer
Develop and utilize tools for epigenome editing
Characterize cancer-associated defects in the three-dimensional structure of the genome
Discover the effects of tumor-associated microenvironment (especially metabolism) on the epigenome
Develop methods to target epigenetically-driven phenotypes such as cancer stem cells and drug-tolerant persisters

Flavahan WA, Drier Y, et al. Altered chromosomal topology drives oncogenic programs in SDH-deficient GISTs. Nature. 2019;575(7781):229-233.

Getting Results…

UMass Chan cancer biologist receives New Innovator Award for developing DNA sequencing technology

William Flavahan, PhD, is one of 40 recipients of the $1.5 million NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, designed to support early career investigators who are proposing bold research.

Read more
William Flavahan receives Distinguished Scientist Award for groundbreaking brain cancer research

William Flavahan, PhD, has received a four-year, $600,000 award from the Sontag Foundation to advance his studies of the genetic processes leading to brain tumors.

Read more