Feyruz V. Rassool

Feyruz V. Rassool is a Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with primary appointment in Radiation Oncology. She serves as Co-director of the Experimental Therapeutics Program at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) and holds an adjunct Associate Professor position at VARI’s Center for Epigenetics. Her research focuses on DNA damage/repair pathways in cancer, particularly their therapeutic exploitation through PARP and DNMT inhibitors.

• Education: B.Sc. in Human Genetics (1983, University College London), Ph.D. in Biological Sciences (1990, Royal Postgraduate Medical School)
• Postdoctoral Training: University of Chicago (1990-1994)

Her work explores the intersection of DNA repair, epigenetics, and mitochondrial dysfunction to develop novel therapies for breast, ovarian, lung, and leukemias. Key projects include STING-dependent interferon signaling, pathogen mimicry in cancer cells, and metastasis suppression through PARPi/epigenetic combinations.

Dr. Rassool is part of the SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team and has secured multiple grants from NCI, NIH, and the Adelson Medical Research Foundation. Her recent preclinical studies with PARP/DNMT inhibitors are being translated into Phase I/II trials for AML and TNBC.

• Scientific Awards
  • Ziskin Award (2012)
  • NCI-SPORE Grant Co-Leader
  • NIH/NCI P30 CA134274 Support Grant

She has mentored 13 PhD/postgraduate researchers and collaborates on clinical trials with Pfizer, VARI-SU2C, and ASTRO. Her lab employs techniques like DNA repair assays, RNAseq, and mouse xenograft models to investigate mechanisms of action for epigenetic drugs.