Kunal Rai

Kunal Rai, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Genomic Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and an Adjunct Associate Professor in Bioengineering at Rice University. His work bridges epigenetics, cancer genomics, and translational medicine to advance precision oncology.

• Primary: Associate Professor, MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Adjunct: Bioengineering, Rice University
• Scientific Director, MDACC Epigenomics Therapy Initiative (METI)

Dr. Rai’s research focuses on chromatin state changes in cancer progression, epigenetic therapy, and single-cell epigenomics. His lab has pioneered high-resolution epigenetic mapping in melanoma, colon cancer, and rare diseases like DSRCT and MPNST, leveraging machine learning and CRISPR-Cas9 editing to identify therapeutic opportunities.

His recent work explores epigenomic stratification for patient-specific therapies, single-cell resolution aberrations, and higher-order chromatin structure disruptions. Articles span journals like Nature Communications, Cell Reports, and PNAS, highlighting cross-disciplinary impacts in cancer biology and epigenetic engineering.