R. Scott Powers, PhD

R. Scott Powers, PhD
Professor, Department of Pathology
Director of Clinical Cancer Genomics, Cancer Center
Basic Sciences Tower, Level 9
Stony Brook Medicine
Stony Brook, NY 11794-8691

Phone: (631) 444-3000
Fax: (631) 444-3424
Email: Robert.Powers@stonybrookmedicine.edu

Research Interests:
Historically Dr. Powers’ main focus has been application of genome-wide DNA copy number profiling to identify recurrent amplified candidate driver genes. This work has involved in vitro and in vivo functional assays to validate the role of candidate driver genes in oncogenesis. Discoveries in this area include gene amplification of PPM1D and ACK1 in breast and prostate adenocarcinomas and more recently, activation of FGF19 by genomic amplification and overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition to copy number alterations in cancer, Dr. Powers has applied genome-wide methods to the study of mutational changes, epigenetic changes, and tumor-stromal interactions.  Current projects include: (1) Functional genomic Identification of drivers and dependencies in breast cancer (2) Computational analysis of large-scale cancer genomic datasets (3) Studying the clonal dynamics of cancer cells using single-cell barcoding (4) Combinatorial genetic screening using tandem-integration of multiple barcodes and (5) Discovery of biomarkers by genomic analysis of exosomes.

Education: 
Institution/LocationDegree      
Year      
Field of Study                                            
Carleton College, Northfield, MNB.A.1974Mathematics
Columbia University, New York, NY
Ph.D.1983Biological Sciences

Positions and Employment:
Year(s)Institution/ Location
1983-1984
Postdoc, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY
1985-1987Staff Scientist, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY
1988-1991
Assistant & Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Rutgers Medical School, NJ
1992-1994Senior Scientist, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, CA
1995-2004Chief Scientific Officer, Amplicon/Tularik/Amgen, NY
2005-2013Associate Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY
2014-present
Professor of Pathology, Stony Brook University, NY
2014-presentProgram Leader in Cancer Genomics, Cancer Center, Stony Brook Medicine, NY

Awards
:
1983-1985Leukemia Society of America Fellowship                                     
1989Basil O’Connor Award

Professional Memberships (current)
:
2014-presentChair, NCI Cancer Genetics Study Section                                                   
2015-presentEditorial Board, Nature Scientific Reports
2010-present
Scientific Advisory Board, Hope Funds for Scientific Research
1995-presentAmerican Association for Cancer Research

Publications: