Chris Vakoc

Christopher Vakoc is the Alan and Edith Seligson Professor of Cancer Research and Deputy Director of Research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center. His work investigates how transcriptional regulators sustain cancer cell states.

Education: M.D., Ph.D. from University of Pennsylvania.

Research utilizes CRISPR-Cas9 screening to identify protein domains critical for cancer survival, with focus on blood cancers vulnerable to coactivator targeting. Key contributions include demonstrating BRD4 inhibition efficacy in leukemia models, now in clinical trials. Current projects deploy domain-focused screening across cancer types.

Awards include the Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research and AACR Outstanding Achievement Award. Service includes directing the CSHL Fellows Program.