Arvin Dar

Arvin Dar, PhD, is the Benno C. Schmidt Chair of Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), where he leads the Dar laboratory within the Chemical Biology Program at the Sloan Kettering Institute. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto (2006) and a BS from the University of Western Ontario (1999). His research focuses on developing chemical tools and small molecules to target cancer mechanisms, particularly those involving signal transduction pathways, kinases, and molecular glues. Key projects include drug discovery for RAS-MAPK-driven cancers and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with an emphasis on conformational modulators and molecular glues. The lab also explores precision medicine approaches using organoid models and patient-derived samples.

Dr. Dar’s work has led to significant advances in understanding drug resistance mechanisms and the structural biology of cancer targets. He has received prestigious awards such as the Mark Foundation ASPIRE Award and the Pershing Square Sohn Prize. His lab collaborates widely, including with industry partners like Nested Therapeutics and Prometeo Therapeutics, which he co-founded to translate research into therapies. Dr. Dar’s research spans chemical biology, structural biology, and translational oncology, with a focus on enabling new paradigms in drug discovery.

• Education: PhD, University of Toronto (2006); BS, University of Western Ontario (1999)
• Affiliations: MSKCC, Sloan Kettering Institute, and co-founder of Nested Therapeutics/Prometeo Therapeutics

His lab’s publications highlight breakthroughs in molecular glue design, kinase inhibitor specificity, and live-cell target engagement. Ongoing projects include developing multi-kinase inhibitors for liver cancer and exploring novel therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer driven by KRAS mutations. The lab also investigates the role of pseudokinases and chaperone proteins in cancer progression.

• Key Awards:
  • Mark Foundation for Cancer Research ASPIRE Award
  • Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research
  • National Academy of Inventors Fellow
  • Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance Award

Dr. Dar mentors students and postdocs in a multidisciplinary environment, emphasizing both experimental and computational approaches. His lab actively recruits researchers interested in chemical biology, drug discovery, and cancer mechanisms.