Christopher A. Maher, PhD

Professor

Phone: 314-362-6152
Fax: 314-454-7551
Email: christophermaher@nospam.wustl.edu

Address:
Division of Oncology
Mail Stop 8069-0057-07
Washington University
660 South Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

Research Interests

Computational biology
Bioinformatics
Genomics
Cancer
Long noncoding RNAs

Research

The Maher lab is comprised of a multidisciplinary team focused on enhancing the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the solid tumor progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance and translating genome-based discoveries into the clinic. The Maher lab has developed numerous open-source bioinformatics tools focused on clonal evolution (ClonEvol), noncoding RNA discovery (DANSR), and gene fusion discovery (INTEGRATE, INTEGRATE-Neo, INTEGRATE-Vis). Further, they have extensive experience integrative cancer ‘omics’ analyses to reveal biologically and clinically relevant biomarkers. This can be exemplified by the discovery of clinically actionable recurrent gene fusions across solid tumors, discovery of noncoding regulatory elements driving treatment resistance in advanced prostate cancer, and blood based epigenetic biomarkers in GI malignancies. Last, the Maher lab also has a strong interest in translational noncoding RNA biology as demonstrated by their discoveries of novel lncRNAs altered in solid tumors, of which a subset are functionally relevant, detectable by non-invasive assays, and are associated with patient outcome.

Maher Lab

Profiles (publications)

DBBS profile

Biosketch

Education

2006-2004: PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory & Stony Brook University, NY
2004-2000: MS in Biomedical Engineering, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory & Stony Brook University, NY
2002-1998: BS in Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Post-Graduate Training

2009-2007: Research Fellow, Michigan Center for Translational Pathology and Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
2007: Postdoctoral Fellow, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa

Academic Positions & Employment

Present-2025: Co-director, Solid Tumor Therapeutics Program at the Alvin J. Siteman Comprehensive Cancer Center
Present-2024: Co-director, Molecular Oncology Section, Division of Oncology
Present-2023: Professor, Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
2023-2018: Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
present-2012: Research Member, Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University, St. Louis, MO
present-2011: Assistant Director, The McDonnell Genome Institute (MGI) at Washington University, St. Louis, MO
2018-2013: Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
2018-2011: Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
2011-2009: Research Investigator, Michigan Center for Translational Pathology (MCTP), Department of Pathology, and Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics (CCMB), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
2004: Visiting Scientist, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa

University & Hospital Appointments & Committees

present-2018: K12 Ad-hoc Reviewer
present-2014: American Cancer Society IRG Reviewer
present-2014: Siteman Cancer Center, Solid Tumor Therapeutics Program Steering Committee
present-2012: Siteman Cancer Center, Breast Cancer Research Program Leadership Team
present-2011: Siteman Cancer Center, Genitourinary Oncology Focus Group Co-leader
2020, 2017: Siteman Investment Program Cycle I Ad-hoc Reviewer

Honors & Awards

2021-2017: American Cancer Society, Research Scholar Grant
2018-2016: Prostate Cancer Foundation / Movember Foundation Challenge Award
2017: International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) Best 2016 Article in the field of ‘Bioinformatics and Translational Informatics’
2017: Lung Cancer Research Foundation Award
2017: William Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer
2017: Jon Shevell Young Scientist Travel Scholarship
2017-2016: WUSTL Pancreatic SPORE Development Research Project Award
2017-2015: Prostate Cancer Foundation Global Treatment Science Challenge Awardee
2017-2014: Susan G. Komen, Career Catalyst Award
2015-2012: LUNGevity Foundation Career Development Awardee
2015-2010: NIH Pathway to Independence Award
2014-2013: V Foundation V Scholar Award
2014-2013: Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award
2013-2010: Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award
2012: Prostate Cancer Foundation Scholar in Residence
2012: Melissa Lumberg Zagon Founders’ Award
2012: American Lung Association Biomedical Research Grant Awardee
2010: Prostate SPORE Meeting, Best Poster Competition, 2nd Place
2010: Genome Technology “Tomorrow’s PIs”
2010-2009: UMCCC Prostate SPORE Pilot Project Awardee
2010-2008: American Cancer Society / Canary Foundation Early Detection Postdoctoral Fellowship (1 of 5 awarded)
2010-2008: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Centennial Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Cancer Research (declined)
2009: American Association for Cancer Research Aflac, Incorporated Scholar-in-Training Award
2009-2008: American Association for Cancer Research and Amgen Fellowship in Clinical/Translational Research (1 awarded)
2007: NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
2005: Best Talk 2nd Annual Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Research Symposium
2004: NSF Plant Genome Program, Biological Sciences travel stipend

Editorial Boards

present-2019: Biology Open (Editor)
present-2018: BMC Genomics
present-2016: Genes, Chromosomes, and Cancer
present-2014: Medical Oncology
present-2014: Molecular Cancer Research

National Scientific Panels

present-2018: American Cancer Society, RNA Mechanisms in Cancer Peer Review Committee
present-2015: Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Stupski Prize in Precision Oncology Committee
present-2014: GBC Genomic and Informed Consent Working Group
present-2012: RTOG Translation Oncology Scientific Review Committee
present-2012: LUNGevity Scientific Advisory Board (ex-officio member)
present-2010: Prostate Cancer Foundation Grant Reviewer
2020: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cancer Genetics Study Section, Ad-hoc Reviewer
2020: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cancer Biomarkers (CAMP) Study Section, Ad-hoc Reviewer
2019, 2018: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cancer Molecular Pathobiology (CAMP) Study Section, Ad-hoc Reviewer
2018-2017: AACR Annual Meeting, microRNAs and Other Noncoding RNAs Section of the Molecular and Cellular Biology, Genetics Subcommittee
2016: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting Education Committee
2016: Medical Research Council Grant Reviewer
2016: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cancer Genetics Study Section (ad hoc reviewer)
2015: Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Award
2015: National Science Foundation (NSF) Molecular and Cellular Biology – Genetic Mechanisms (NSF 13-510)
2015: Department of Defense (DOD) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Health Disparities (HDA) Study Section
2013: Prostate Cancer UK Reviewer
2013: Longer Life Foundation Reviewer
2013: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting Methods Workshop Organizer
2012: Workshop on Data Mining of Next Generation Sequencing (WDNS)
2012-2011: DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) CBY-MBG Panel Review
2011: Great Lakes Bioinformatics Conference (GLBIO), Ohio University
2011: Cancer UK, Biomarkers and Imaging Discovery (BIDD) Development Committee, Genomics Initiative, London, UK
2011: Prostate Cancer UK Reviewer
2010: Experimental Biology, Session chair, Bioinformatics and Next Generation Sequencing
2010: AACR 101st Annual Meeting, Cellular and Molecular Biology (CB) Subcommittee focusing on Bioinformatics and Computational Molecular Biology
2009: AACR 100th Annual Meeting, WICR Careen Mentoring Forum Facilitator

Professional Societies & Organizations

present-2016: Academy of Science St. Louis
present-2012, 2004, 2002: International Society for Computational Biology
present-2010: American Association of the Advancement of Science
present-2008: American Association for Cancer Research
2010-2009: American Society for Investigative Pathology
2010-2009: Society of Genome Biology and Technology
2004-2002: American Society of Plant Biologists