Charles M. Perou, PhD

Research Interests

Keywords: breast cancer research, cancer genetics, bioinformatics, genomics, epidemiology and clinical research

Breast cancer is a prevalent disease with known clinical and molecular diversity. To address these challenges, my research team uses a multidisciplinary approach based upon genomics, genetics, cancer biology, bioinformatics, epidemiology, and clinical research to improve the outcomes of cancer patients. A major contribution of mine has been the discovery of the intrinsic subtypes of breast cancer. We demonstrated that breast cancers can be divided into at least five molecular subtypes using the “PAM50” assay, with my lab focusing particular attention on the Basal-like subtype, which represents ~80% of Triple Negative Breast Cancers. In addition, we have translated these molecular classifications into the human population; specifically, by using the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS), we have found that young African American (AA) women are diagnosed with Basal-like Breast Cancers approximately twice as often as their Caucasian counterparts. These results provide a partial explanation of the racial outcomes disparity in the USA between AAs and Caucasians; however, additional studies are needed and are an emphasis of our ongoing research.

Our main research focus includes identifying the drivers of metastatic disease, determining the role of the adaptive immune system in breast tumor progression, and improving therapeutic targeting of TNBC/Basal-like tumors. We use a multitude of experimental and computational approaches, including RNA-sequencing (RNAseq), single-cell approaches, proteomics, DNA exome and whole genome sequencing, cell culture, and mouse models. We use these approaches to discover the causative events of each molecular subtype in human tumors and then model these events in cell lines and mouse models where we can investigate tumor biology and immune system interactions. All of these genomic studies generate large volumes of data, and thus a significant portion of my lab is devoted to computational approaches to use these multi-omics data to develop statistical predictors of tumor responsiveness and long-term patient outcomes.

I am currently a Professor in the Department of Genetics, and have been a faculty member at UNC-CH since 2000. I am also the Co-Director of the Computational Medicine Program, Faculty Director of the LCCC Bioinformatics Group, and Co-Director of the LCCC Breast Cancer Research Program. I am a member of the AACR, ASCO, the ALLIANCE Breast Committee, and the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium. My lab has received support from the NIH/NCI, Susan G. Komen, V Foundation for Cancer Research, and Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I have also co-founded three genomics-based biotechnology companies that are bringing new genomic tests into clinical care.

I actively strive to foster a diverse work environment, including people from different cultures and training backgrounds (i.e., biologists, geneticists, bioinformaticians, statisticians, oncologists, surgical oncologists, pathologists, and others). I am actively seeking new graduate students, medical fellows, and postdoctoral fellows, and have opportunities available for both experimentalists and computational scientists.

Awards and Honors

• Ruth and Phillip Hettleman Prize for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement from UNC (2006)
• AACR Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research (2009)
• Danaher Scientific & Medical Award from the Susan G. Komen (2011)
• The European Institute of Oncology Breast Cancer Therapy Award (2012)
• Hyman L. Battle Distinguished Cancer Research Award from UNC (2013)
• Jill Rose Award for Distinguished Biomedical Research from the BRCF (2016)
• Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Research from the Susan G. Komen (2016)
• Thomson Reuters Most Highly Cited Researchers (Top 1% in Clinical Medicine) (2014-20)
• Association of American Cancer Institutes Distinguished Scientist Award (2018)
• OncLive Giants of Cancer Care Award (2019)
• AACR Team Science Award to recognize TCGA Pilot & Current TCGA Project Teams (2020)

Mentor Training:

• Bias 101
• DEI Program Part 1 – Unconscious Bias
• DEI Program Part 2 – Respecting All
• Office of Graduate Education Trained Mentor
• REI Groundwater Training

Training Program Affiliations:

• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
• Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Pathobiology & Translational Science

Publications

• PubMed

Charles Perou in UNC Genetics News