Jesse Raab

Jesse Raab, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at the UNC School of Medicine. His research focuses on chromatin remodeling complexes, particularly the SWI/SNF complex, and their roles in cancer and disease. He holds a PhD from UC Santa Cruz (2011) and completed postdoctoral training at UNC (2012-2016). Dr. Raab leads a lab studying how chromatin changes contribute to liver cancers and fibrosis, with active grants from NIGMS, DOD, and CEHS. His work includes developing therapeutic strategies targeting epigenetic regulators and understanding chromatin dynamics in stem cell differentiation.

Key affiliations include the Genetics Department and the School of Data Science and Society. Mentorship is emphasized through programs like the Faculty Mentoring Workshop. Recent grants include a 2022 NIGMS R35 for SWI/SNF mechanism studies and a 2020 DOD award for liver fibrosis research. His lab uses CRISPR screens and functional genomics (e.g., ATAC-seq, RNA-seq) to explore chromatin regulation and cellular fate decisions.

Publications span topics like BAP1 alterations in cancer (2024), TNRC18’s role in retrotransposon silencing (2023), and SWI/SNF complex assembly (2019). Awards highlight his contributions to understanding chromatin’s role in disease pathogenesis. Training initiatives support students like Jackie Brinkman, focusing on bioinformatics and scientific communication.