Luke A. Gilbert

Luke A. Gilbert is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine. He leads an independent research program focused on functional genomics, epigenetic engineering, and cancer biology, supported by multiple NIH grants including an R01, DP2, and R41 awards.

His research centers on developing and applying CRISPR-based technologies to dissect gene regulation, chromatin dynamics, and cancer vulnerabilities. Key areas include epigenetic memory editing using CRISPRoff, combinatorial chromatin perturbations, and identifying regulatory elements in cancer. His work spans glioblastoma, prostate cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia, with a strong emphasis on therapeutic translation.

The recent publications reveal a strong trend in high-throughput functional genomics, single-cell and spatial analyses, and integrative multiomics to uncover mechanisms of drug resistance, immune evasion, and oncogenic signaling. His team leverages cutting-edge tools like perturb-seq and engineered CRISPR systems to interrogate complex biological systems in vivo and in vitro.

Scientific Awards:

• Virginia and Daniel K. Ludwig Graduate Research Fellow
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Postdoctoral Fellow
• NIH/NCI Pathway to Independence Award
• Gabrielle's Angel Foundation Medical Research Fellow
• NIH Director's New Innovator Award (2019–2023)
• Pew-Stewart Scholar for Cancer Research (2020)
• AAAS / Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award (2022–2023)
• Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award (2022–2027)
• CRUK/NCI Cancer Grand Challenge Award (2022–2027)
• NIH NHGRI UM1 HG012660

Luke Gilbert has secured significant grant funding as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH projects, including a DP2 New Innovator Award and R01 grants focused on DNA methylation editing and genetic interaction mapping in the human nucleus. These grants support his lab’s innovative work in functional genomics and cancer biology.

He is actively involved in collaborative science, as seen through his participation in large consortia such as the MorPhiC Consortium, and his research is conducted within state-of-the-art facilities at UCSF, leveraging the university’s strengths in biomedical research, genomics, and translational medicine.