Scientific Areas of Expertise: Cancer Disparities; Cell and Tumor Biology; Genetic Risk and Functional Genomics; Precision Oncology
For world-renowned contributions to the understanding of the role of biology in cancer disparities observed in underrepresented populations, significant research contributions to the field of precision cancer medicine centered on high-throughput genomic approaches, and for his seminal characterization of the role of HOXB13 and AKT1 genomic alterations in human cancers.
A leading light in cancer and health disparities research, Dr. Carpten has made world-renowned contributions to cancer research that have deepened our understanding of the role of biology in cancer disparities in underrepresented populations. With expertise in a broad range of research disciplines spanning germline genetics, tumor profiling, cancer cell biology, functional genomics, and health disparities, Dr. Carpten has expertly spearheaded research endeavors that have led to the discovery of various molecular alterations in cancer. Through the development and application of cutting-edge technologies and novel bioinformatic approaches, Dr. Carpten has broadened our understanding of a variety of cancer types including brain, breast, colon, multiple myeloma, pediatric, and prostate cancer.
Notably, Dr. Carpten has been a pioneer in defining the role of genetics in cancer incidence and mortality rates observed amongst underrepresented populations. Concordantly, and through his leadership, the African American Hereditary Prostate Cancer Study Network was established. This network and study has since become a premier model for genetic linkage studies in underrepresented populations and led to the first genome wide scan for prostate cancer susceptibility genes in African Americans.
Dr. Carpten is credited with identifying HOXb13 as the first prostate cancer susceptibility gene and for uncovering novel somatic alterations capable of contributing to metastatic prostate cancer. Similarly, he led studies that identified and characterized AKT1 mutations responsible for breast, colorectal and ovarian cancer onset. His research has also elucidated the role of NF-kB pathway mutations in multiple myeloma. Importantly, he has made significant contributions to the understanding of cancer disparities observed in underrepresented populations, translating these findings into innovative approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Currently, his research endeavors are focused on precision medicine, whereby next generation sequencing technologies are being applied to interrogate the genomes and transcriptomes of tumors in a clinical setting to identify suitable biological targets for select therapeutics.
Selected Awards and Honors
2009-Present External Advisory Board, Moffitt Cancer Center for Equal Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
2007-Present External Advisory Committee, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
2014 AACR Distinguished Lectureship on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities, American Association of Cancer Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2014 Chair, External Advisory Committee, Florida Minority Cancer Research & Training Center, Gainesville, Florida
2013 Chair, AACR Special Conference, Science of Health Disparities, American Association of Cancer Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2007-2012 External Advisory Board, Research Centers in Minority Institutions, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia
2007-2010 External Advisory Board, NCI Childhood Cancer TARGET Initiative, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
2006 Science Trailblazer, Science Spectrum Magazine, Roseville, California
2002 Faculty Mentor Award, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland