Charles M. Perou

Charles M. Perou is the May Goldman Shaw Distinguished Professor of Molecular Oncology and Professor of Genetics and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He leads the UNC Lineberger Breast Cancer Research Program and co-directs the Computational Medicine Program. His work focuses on breast cancer molecular subtypes, particularly the Basal-like/TNBC subtype, integrating genomics, bioinformatics, and clinical research to improve patient outcomes. He has pioneered the PAM50 assay and contributed to understanding racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes through the Carolina Breast Cancer Study.

• Roles: Co-Leader, UNC Lineberger Breast Cancer Research Program; Co-Director, Computational Medicine Program; Faculty Director, LCCC Bioinformatics Group.
• Research Interests: Breast cancer diversity, genomic classification, tumor biology, and therapeutic targeting.

His lab employs RNA-sequencing, single-cell approaches, and computational models to study metastasis and immune interactions. He actively mentors students and has secured grants from NIH/NCI, Susan G. Komen, and others. He co-founded genomics-based biotech companies to translate research into clinical care.

Key Awards: AACR Academy Fellow (2023), Brinker Award (2016), and multiple recognitions for mentoring and scientific contributions.

His work spans lab investigations, clinical trials, and translational research, emphasizing collaboration across disciplines (e.g., bioinformatics, oncology). He leads the UNC Breast Cancer SPORE grant and has published extensively in high-impact journals.