Harvard Catalyst Profiles

Genomic understanding of benign and malignant thyroid disease has significantly improved the care of patients with this increasingly common illness. Yet, basic understanding of single gene mutations (often in an oncogene) is proving to be a helpful yet blunt tool to prognosticate the future for any individual. Single cell analysis of genomic data provides insight into the evolution of a tumor on the cellular level, noting the changes and genomic evolution critical to prognosis. Beyond just genomic changes in thyroid cancer cells, genomic fingerprints in mesenchymal, vascular and stromal cells play a hugely important part in immune modulation (or lack thereof). This project involves working with a team of faculty in the Thyroid Section, Dept of Medicine at BWH. The project investigates patient with nodules and thyroid cancer, and seeks to create a database of phenotypic data; separately working with our genomics team, we are analyzing thyroid benign and malignant disease to understand single cell changes. The final output is to put these data together, as well as to understand the genomic landscape changes over time (when multiple samples are available), and then create predictive prognositc tools that can assist with care determination for others ahead. This lab has proven very active in publishing articles on their work, and all contributors are cited as co-authors. We invite an excited HMS student to apply and join us on this journey ahead.