William Walker

William Walker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the West Virginia University School of Medicine and a faculty member at the WVU Cancer Institute. His research integrates neuroscience and cancer biology to study bidirectional tumor-brain interactions through the lens of circadian rhythms and chronotherapeutics.

Education:

• PhD in Neuroscience, The Ohio State University
• Postdoctoral Scholar, West Virginia University

Dr. Walker's lab investigates how circadian disruptions (e.g., light at night) impact cancer progression and treatment efficacy, with focus areas including chrono-chemotherapy for brain metastases, chronotherapeutic effects on cancer survivor quality of life, and timed immunotherapy administration. His work bridges molecular mechanisms in mouse models with clinical translation in oncology.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in circadian regulation of neuroimmunology, tumor microenvironment dynamics, and time-dependent treatment efficacy across breast cancer, brain metastases, and solid tumors. Key methodological approaches include light-exposure manipulations, timed drug administration, and neurobehavioral assessments in aging models.

Scientific Awards:

• Faculty of 1000 Physiology Recommendation (2021)
• Faculty of 1000 Pharmacology & Drug Discovery Recommendation (2021)

Dr. Walker mentors PhD candidates in Immunology and Cancer Biology while leading an NCI Pathway to Independence Award (R00CA273424, 2024-2027) investigating circadian blood-brain barrier permeability for brain metastasis chemotherapy. His lab maintains active collaborations with the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and WVU Cancer Institute Research Programs.

The Walker Lab operates within the Department of Neuroscience and WVU Cancer Institute, utilizing transgenic mouse models to study circadian disruptions in cancer-neuroimmune crosstalk. Current team structure includes graduate researchers, medical students, and undergraduate scholars focused on translating chronobiology principles into clinical oncology applications.