Welcome to the Viswanathan Lab!


​Lab Overview
We leverage genomic and functional genetic methods to dissect the molecular underpinnings and vulnerabilities of cancer. We have an interest in the mechanistic study of pathways that underlie cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance, with a particular focus on genitourinary cancers.

Mission
Our overarching mission is to make scientific discoveries that accelerate the development of life-extending treatments for patients with cancer. We integrate genomic profiling of primary tissue specimens with functional approaches in in vitro and in vivo systems to discover the drivers and vulnerabilities of cancer. In addition to basic and translational research output, we are also deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of physicians and scientists.

Join our Team
We are a highly collaborative research group composed of experimental and computational scientists and clinicians with diverse expertise. 
  • Please click here if you are interested in joining the the lab. 
  • ​PhD rotation students (Harvard BBS Program) are welcome!

Lab News


February 2025
• Our manuscript on OXPHOS activation by TFE3 fusions in tRCC is now published in Nature Metabolism! LINK

October 2024
• New preprint on dependency prediction in rare cancers LINK

August 2024
• New preprint on metabolic reprogramming by TFE3 fusions LINK
• Our paper on a genetic basis for female sex bias in translocation RCC is now published in Cell. LINK

October 2023
• Our review on targeted therapies in RCC is published in Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America. LINK
• Congrats to Prateek Khanna on being awarded the KCA Translocation Focus Award!

August 2023
• Goodbye to Aarya, Nivedha, and Stephen, our fantastic summer students!
• Our preprint on the genetic underpinnings of sex bias in tRCC is on bioRxiv. LINK
• Our review on genome-guided cancer target discovery is out in Cell Reports. LINK

November 2022
• Our paper on XIST activation in male cancers is out in Cell Systems LINK

September 2022
• Thank you to the Kidney Cancer Association for supporting our lab with a KCA Trailblazer Award!

August 2022
• eLife Insight article on androgen receptor splicing LINK
• Our work prostate cancer whole genome analysis now published in JCI Insight LINK
• Thank you to the V Foundation for supporting our lab with a V Scholar Award!

February 2022
• Our work identifying PRMT1 as a vulnerability in prostate cancer is now published in Cell Reports: LINK

January 2022
• Our work on the genomic landscape of tRCC is now published in Cell Reports: LINK
• New preprint on the landscape of structural variation in prostate cancer. LINK
• Thank you to the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation for supporting our lab's work with a Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award! LINK

December 2021
• Congratulations to Shatha on winning a People’s Choice Award for her poster at the 17th Annual Broad Retreat!
• Congratulations to Jiao on being awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the DoD Kidney Cancer Research Program! LINK

September 2021
• Congratulations to Jiao on a fellowship from the National Cancer Center. LINK

April 2021
• New preprint on the genomic landscape of translocation renal cell carcinoma now on bioRxiv LINK

March 2021
• Congratulations to Shatha on being awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the DoD Kidney Cancer Research Program! LINK.

July 2020 • Welcome Vidya; goodbye and good luck to Stephen!

June 2020
• First preprint from the lab is up on BioRxiv. LINK.

June 2020 • We're back (at least partially)!

April 2020
• Shutting down the lab for the COVID pandemic...stay safe everyone!

September 2019
• We welcome the first members of the lab: Emma, Nebiyou, and Stephen!

August 2019
• Hello World! The Viswanathan Lab is official!