Chad V. Pecot

Dr. Chad V. Pecot is a Professor in the Division of Oncology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine and a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. He serves as Co-Leader of the UNC Lineberger Molecular Therapeutics Research Program and Director of the UNC RNA Discovery Center. Dr. Pecot specializes in solid tumor malignancies, with a particular focus on thoracic medical oncology and clinical research. Since August 2013, he has been an independent investigator at UNC-Chapel Hill, leading innovative research in cancer biology and therapeutic development.

Dr. Pecot's educational background includes:

• Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami (1999-2002), Cum Laude
• Medical School, University of Miami (2002-2006), Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
• Internal Medicine Residency, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (2006-2009)
• Hematology and Oncology Fellowship, MD Anderson Cancer Center (2009-2012), Chief Fellow
• Thoracic Medical Oncology Fellowship, MD Anderson Cancer Center (2012-2013)

Dr. Pecot's research is characterized by a harmonization of therapeutic RNA interference, sophisticated modeling of cancer metastasis and the tumor microenvironment, and the integrative use of complex bioinformatic and systems biology approaches. As a cancer survivor himself, he has a passion for translating important findings in cancer biology to the clinic as rapidly as possible. His laboratory focuses on several key areas including the role of lymphatics in metastasis, non-coding RNAs in metastasis, inflammatory monocytes in metastasis, tumor angiogenesis in metastasis, and the development of therapeutic RNA interference to target metastasis. His work primarily uses lung and triple-negative breast cancers as disease models, with the goal of impacting treatment paradigms for other aggressive malignancies.

Analysis of Dr. Pecot's recent publications reveals a strong focus on RNA-based therapeutics, particularly targeting "undruggable" cancer genes like KRAS and MYC. His research group has developed innovative approaches including inverted chimeric RNAi molecules that can co-target multiple oncogenes simultaneously. There is also significant work on understanding the role of non-coding RNAs (particularly snoRNAs) in cancer metastasis through mechanisms like RNA modification and alternative splicing. His team is advancing delivery systems for RNA therapeutics, including B7H3-targeting macrocyclic peptide conjugates, to improve tumor-specific delivery. Additionally, his research spans cancer immunology, with investigations into how lifestyle factors like alcohol use affect immunotherapy efficacy and how to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Dr. Pecot has received numerous prestigious awards and honors, including:

• Lung Cancer Initiative Alumni Supplemental Grant (2023)
• University of North Carolina UCRF Innovator Award (2019)
• Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Award (2017)
• Free to Breathe Metastasis Research Award (2016)
• Stuart Scott V Foundation/Lung Cancer Initiative Award for Clinical Research (2016)
• William Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer (2016)
• Multiple ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation awards

He has also secured significant grant funding, including a $1.8 million National Cancer Institute grant in 2023 for lung cancer research and a $100,000 Lung Cancer Initiative grant in 2023.

Dr. Pecot has a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists at both doctoral and postdoctoral levels. He founded EnFuego Therapeutics, a company focused on developing RNA-interference drugs that silence cancer-related gene mutations. His laboratory, the Pecot Lab, fosters "critically creative" ideas to tackle cancer metastasis, which is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. The lab's work is centered on understanding the complex processes involved in metastasis and developing therapeutic strategies that attack its "Achilles' heels."