Lillian J Eichner

Dr. Lillian J Eichner serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, where her lab investigates transcriptional dependencies in cancer development and therapeutic resistance using immune-competent mouse models.

• BA: Northwestern University (2004)
• PhD: McGill University (2013)
• Postdoctoral Fellow: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Lung Cancer Research (2021)

Her research focuses on epigenetic, signaling, and metabolic intersections in LKB1-mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for ~20% of cases. By leveraging genetically engineered models, her team reveals how transcription mediates tumor progression and identifies targetable vulnerabilities, with future work exploring therapeutic liabilities in both mutant and wildtype tumor contexts.

Recent publications (2019-2025) demonstrate consistent exploration of HDAC3 pathways, Kras mutations, and transcriptional regulation in NSCLC. Broad disciplines span Cancer Biology, Immunology, and Pharmacology, with recurring subfields including tumor microenvironment dynamics, metabolic reprogramming, therapeutic resistance mechanisms, epigenetic control, immune evasion, and targeted intervention strategies.

• Early Career Researcher of the Year Award, American Cancer Society (2025)
• Honoree, Breaking Barriers: Celebrating Excellence in Female Leadership, American Cancer Society (2024)
• V Scholar, V Foundation (2023)
• ResearcHERS Scholar, American Cancer Society (2023)

Dr. Eichner mentors PhD students from the Driskill Graduate Program investigating NSCLC resistance mechanisms and transcriptional dependencies. Her research receives support from American Cancer Society grants and V Foundation awards, enabling in vivo studies of tumor-immune interactions. The Eichner Lab maintains active collaborations with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Center for Human Immunobiology, with industry partnerships disclosed through Northwestern's integrity policies.