Research Interests
Keywords: Computational Biology, gene regulation, Enhancers, enhancer RNAs, pioneer transcription factors, genomics
Dr. Franco has a primary appointment in the Department of Genetics and is a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. After receiving his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics from the University of Puerto Rico Medical School in 2011, he became an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. W. Lee Kraus at UT Southwest Medical Center. Dr. Franco’s work focused on molecular crosstalk between the endocrine and immune systems as well as non-coding RNAs and epigenetics in breast cancer.
Dr. Franco has been awarded a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Cancer Institute to continue his work as a faculty member at UNC. His lab will focus on studying the formation and function of transcriptional enhancers and the non-coding RNAs that are actively produced at enhancers, such as enhancer RNAs and long non-coding RNAs, which are involved in modulating several aspects of gene regulation. In addition, his lab will aim to understand how transcriptional enhancers help orchestrate responses to external stimuli found in the tumor microenvironment. The Franco lab will address these research aims by using an interdisciplinary approach that combines state-of-the-art molecular and cellular techniques with powerful genomic and computational approaches.
Mentor Training:
- Faculty Mentoring Workshop for Biomedical Researchers
Publications
Hector Franco in UNC Genetics News
March 3, 2025
Department of Genetics Publications for February 2nd – March 1st, 2025
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 18 papers during February 2nd - March 1st 2025.
September 1, 2024
Department of Genetics Publications for August 18th – 31st, 2024
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 18 papers during August 18th - 31st 2024.
December 18, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for December 3rd – 16th, 2023
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 14 papers during December 3rd - 16th 2023.
October 9, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for September 24th – October 7th, 2023
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 12 papers during September 24th - October 7th 2023.
September 25, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for September 10th – 23rd, 2023
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 7 papers during September 10th - 23rd 2023.
May 31, 2023
Dr. Hector Franco Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure
Hector Franco, PhD has been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Genetics, effective June 1, 2023.
May 11, 2023
Genetics Faculty Featured at UNC Lineberger’s 46th Annual Scientific Symposium
Leading investigators offer ‘highly scientific, but patient-focused’ talks on women’s cancers at symposium
August 25, 2022
Dr. Hector Franco Awarded R01 from NCI
Hector Franco, PhD (Assistant Professor, Genetics) was awarded a new R01 grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for his project titled “Posttranslational regulation of FOXA1 in breast cancer”.
August 1, 2022
Department of Genetics Publications for July 17th – 30th, 2022
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 11 papers during July 17th – 30th, 2022.
April 25, 2022
Department of Genetics Publications April 10th – 23rd, 2022
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 18 papers during April 10th – 23rd, 2022.
