Katie Hoadley

Katherine Hoadley, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She leads the Hoadley Lab, which focuses on understanding cancer biology through gene expression analyses and integrative genomic approaches. As a long-time member of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project, she has contributed to the comprehensive characterization of over 10,000 samples from 33 tumor types, with UNC serving as one of the main RNA sequencing centers for the TCGA initiative. Her current work continues through the NCI's Center for Cancer Genomics Genomic Data Analysis Network as a specialized center for RNA sequencing analysis.

Dr. Hoadley's research interests primarily center on computational genomics, bioinformatics, and cancer biology with a specific focus on breast cancer, particularly aggressive basal-like breast cancers. Her work involves analyzing data for new NCI programs including Exceptional Responders and ALCHEMIST initiatives. Her research integrates molecular subtyping, genomic analysis of clinical trials, and translational biology approaches to improve cancer classification and treatment strategies. She applies advanced computational methods to RNA sequencing data to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Her publication portfolio demonstrates a strong focus on pan-cancer analyses, tumor microenvironment characterization, and molecular subtyping across multiple cancer types. The research trends show increasing emphasis on spatial biomarkers, immune profiling, single-cell analysis, and health disparities in cancer outcomes. Her recent work integrates machine learning approaches with genomic data to develop predictive models for treatment response and recurrence risk.

• Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate 2020, 2024)
• Marion R. Wright Award for Scientific Excellence (Breast Cancer Research Foundation 2020)
• Team Science Pilot Project Award from UNC Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility (2022)
• R01 grant from National Cancer Institute titled "P53, DNA repair imbalance, and immune response in breast cancer mortality disparities"

Dr. Hoadley actively collaborates on multiple research fronts, including the Carolina Breast Cancer Study where she analyzes genomic data to understand racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes. Her lab works closely with the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and participates in the Human Cancer Models Initiative (HCMI). Current projects include developing methods to characterize chromatin states in patient samples and using CRISPR screens in mouse liver models to understand genetic and environmental drivers of liver cancer. Her future work aims to bridge computational genomics with clinical applications to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.