Dr. Daniel Pomeranz Krummel’s research focus is on the development of approaches to improve treatment of malignant brain tumors, both primary and metastatic. In collaboration with physician-scientist Dr. Soma Sengupta, Dr. Pomeranz Krummel is advancing a novel class of small molecule compounds to improve effectiveness and reduce toxic side-effects of radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Dr. Pomeranz Krummel completed a PhD in biochemistry at Yale University, where he studied the structure-function of an RNA enzyme alongside his mentor, Dr. Sidney Altman, a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1989). It was at Yale that Dr. Pomeranz Krummel first crossed paths with his long-time collaborator, Dr. Soma Sengupta.

After doctoral research, he went to work at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, U.K. There he obtained the first structural insight into an integral part of a very large complex called the spliceosome, a landmark achievement at the time. The spliceosome is responsible for the maturation of protein-coding gene mRNA transcripts.

Dr. Pomeranz Krummel transitioned his research focus to drug development for treatment of adult and pediatric patients diagnosed with primary brain tumors. More recently, he has also pursued developing treatments for metastatic brain cancers, specifically in lung cancer.

Dr. Pomeranz Krummel currently works collaboratively with Dr. Sengupta in a shared lab on UNC’s campus.