Dr. Timour Baslan

Biography

Timour Baslan, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on understanding cancer genetics and biology with an aim to advance early-stage intervention and diagnostic tools for therapeutic targeting of cancer cells. His group employs a multidisciplinary approach that integrates sequencing and computational method development, including analytics such as long and short-read sequencing, statistics, and unsupervised learning/machine learning. Additionally, experimental perturbation approaches in cancer models are a crucial aspect of his work, utilizing techniques such as shRNA, CRISPR, and chemical screens in in-vitro cell lines, organoids, and mouse models. A significant emphasis is placed on the role of Copy Number Alterations (CNAs), which are often overlooked cancer driver alterations. Recent studies from his group highlight the central role that CNAs play in disease initiation, progression, and therapeutic relapse, with a specific focus on pancreatic and breast cancers as well as acute leukemias and sarcomas.

Research Interests