Dr. Charles M Perou stands as a pioneering figure in cancer genomics whose transformative work has redefined how we understand and classify breast cancer at the molecular level. Currently serving as the May Goldman Shaw Distinguished Professor of Molecular Oncology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he maintains prominent leadership roles as Co-Director of the Computational Medicine Program, Faculty Director of the UNC Lineberger Bioinformatics Group, and Co-Director of the UNC Lineberger Breast Cancer Research Program. Following his doctoral studies in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Utah, where he cloned the human Chediak-Higashi Syndrome gene, he pursued postdoctoral training with David Botstein at Stanford University, initiating his groundbreaking genomic studies of human tumors using DNA microarrays. Dr. Perou has been a cornerstone of cancer research at UNC-Chapel Hill since joining the faculty in 2000, establishing a legacy of innovation that bridges computational science and biological discovery.
His most influential contribution emerged from the genomic characterization of breast tumors, which identified the intrinsic molecular subtypes of breast cancer including Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, and Basal-like categories, a discovery that fundamentally transformed cancer classification and treatment paradigms. This work led to the development of the PAM50 assay, now a clinical standard that accurately predicts patient survival times and responsiveness to chemotherapy and targeted therapies, directly impacting treatment decisions for millions of women worldwide. With an impressive citation count exceeding 316,000 according to Google Scholar, his research has particularly illuminated the Basal-like subtype, revealing that approximately 80% of triple-negative breast cancers fall within this category and establishing a critical framework for developing subtype-specific treatments. Dr. Perou's laboratory employs cutting-edge genomic technologies including RNA-sequencing, single-cell analyses, and spatial transcriptomics to unravel the complex biological diversity underlying tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance.
Through the Computational Medicine Program, which he co-directs with Timothy C. Elston, Dr. Perou is harnessing advanced computing and data analysis expertise to drive the next wave of cancer research discoveries that promise to further personalize treatment approaches. His visionary leadership extends to co-founding three genomics-based biotechnology companies that translate genomic discoveries into clinical tests, demonstrating his commitment to transforming research findings into tangible patient benefits. Dr. Perou actively cultivates a diverse, interdisciplinary research environment that brings together biologists, geneticists, bioinformaticians, statisticians, and clinicians in the shared mission of advancing precision oncology. Currently focusing on developing artificial intelligence predictors of treatment response and patient survival, his work continues to push the boundaries of how genomic data can inform clinical decision-making, ensuring his legacy of innovation will shape the future of cancer care for generations to come.
