- Hedgehog pathway dysregulation in cancer
- Pharmacologic profiling of cancer cells
- Novel hedgehog pathway inhibitors
- +۴ مورد دیگر
Dr. Kevin Williams is a Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where he serves as the Merck Professor in Integrated Biosciences at the Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE). He is also a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC and an associate member of the Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Williams joined NCCU in 2007 as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 2018. Dr. Williams earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, UK in 1988 and his B.Sc. in Biochemistry (upper second-class honors) from the University of Bath, UK in 1984. Prior to joining NCCU, he spent 15 years in the biopharmaceutical industry, including 6 years at Biogen. Dr. Williams' research primarily focuses on the Hedgehog signaling pathway and its dysregulation in cancer. His laboratory investigates Hedgehog pathway dysregulation in cancer, pharmacologic profiling of cancer cells, the identification and development of novel hedgehog pathway inhibitors, and the role of the hedgehog pathway in alcohol-induced birth defects. He also has significant research interests in Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), including identifying potential therapeutics and raising awareness of this aggressive disease. His publication record demonstrates consistent research activity across multiple disciplines, with recent work spanning cancer therapeutics, developmental biology, and health disparities research. His most recent publications (2022-2025) show a strong focus on hedgehog pathway modulation, inflammatory breast cancer research, and racial disparities in cancer outcomes, with increasing incorporation of computational and AI/ML approaches in drug discovery. NCCU Merck Distinguished Professorship in Integrated Biosciences, 2020 American Association Cancer Research MSI Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research Award (2009, 2010, 2012) Dr. Williams has been continually funded since joining NCCU, with grants from NIH, DoD, Susan G. Komen, and NIIMBL. He leads or co-leads several significant research projects, including the NIH/NIHMD R01 MD017405-01 project addressing health disparities by targeting geographical ancestry-driven variants of immunity. His lab also maintains a strong focus on student training and workforce development, particularly for underrepresented groups in biomedical research. Dr. Williams directs research activities at the BRITE Institute, where his laboratory employs various techniques including high-throughput screening, molecular biology, and in vitro and in vivo cancer models. He collaborates extensively with researchers at UNC and Duke, particularly through the NCCU-DUKE Cancer Disparities Translational Research Partnership.




