Mandar Deepak Muzumdar

Dr. Mandar Deepak Muzumdar is an Associate Professor of Genetics and of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology) at Yale School of Medicine. He serves as a Member of the Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Scientific Director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center, and Co-Director of both the Pancreas Program and the Training Program in Genetics.

Dr. Muzumdar's educational background includes:

• AB in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard College (2003)
• MD from Stanford University School of Medicine (2008)
• Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital (2009-2010)
• Fellowship in Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital (2014)
• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT (2017)

His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which genetic, environmental, and host factors contribute to cancer initiation, progression, and maintenance. Dr. Muzumdar's laboratory leverages sophisticated genetically-engineered cell and animal models to define the molecular basis for tumor cell and host adaptations that drive tumorigenesis. His work centers on three major projects: targeting KRAS in pancreatic cancer, deciphering the mechanistic link between obesity and pancreatic cancer, and tracing tumor progression in KRAS-driven cancers. The ultimate goal of his research is to identify novel approaches for cancer prevention and treatment.

Dr. Muzumdar's publication record shows a strong focus on pancreatic cancer biology, with significant contributions to understanding KRAS signaling, obesity-cancer connections, and tumor progression mechanisms. His most notable publication appeared in Cell (2020) describing an endocrine-exocrine signaling axis that drives obesity-associated pancreatic cancer.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards:

• Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award (2021)
• New Innovator Award (DP2) from NIH Director's Common Fund (2019)
• AACR NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research (2019)
• Early Career Award from Cancer Research (2019)
• Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08) from NCI (2016)

As an educator and mentor, Dr. Muzumdar advises multiple graduate students, MD/PhD students, and postdoctoral fellows in his lab. He is committed to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, integrating research, education, and clinical care to make a greater impact on cancer patient care. His lab provides opportunities for trainees to work with cutting-edge models of pancreatic and lung cancers, with emphasis on translational applications.

Dr. Muzumdar directs the Muzumdar Lab, which opened in late 2017 and focuses on pancreatic cancer research using genetically-engineered mouse models that closely recapitulate human disease. The lab investigates how gene mutations interact with environmental factors like obesity to drive cancer progression, with the goal of identifying new strategies for cancer prevention and therapy.