Cancer Biology & Genetics Program

The Tuomas Tammela Lab

Research

Tuomas Tammela, MD, PhD

The Tammela lab is interested in understanding the remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity of cancer cells within tumors. We approach this question using a combination of sophisticated genetically engineered mouse models, single-cell approaches, tracing and ablation of distinct tumor cell lineages, CRISPR-mediated gene regulation, and advanced imaging techniques. We utilize the exceptional resources developed by our MSK collaborators, such as organoids and xenografts, for the translation of our findings into new treatments for human cancer. Our goal is to discover pathways that drive distinct cellular phenotypes and to develop new therapeutic concepts aimed at reducing cellular heterogeneity in tumors.

Research Projects

Publications

People

Dr. Tuomas Tammela

Tuomas Tammela, MD, PhD

  • Cancer biologist Tuomas Tammela investigates cellular heterogeneity in lung and pancreatic cancers.
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • University of Helsinki, Finland: MD, PhD
646-888-2048
Office Phone

Members

Melissa Blum, BS
Melissa Blum

Research Technician

Jason Chan, MD, PhD
Jason Chan

Clinical Fellow

Olivera Grbovic-Huezo
Olivera Grbovic-Huezo

Senior Scientist/Research Lab Manager

Emily B. Johnson, MPH
Emily B. Johnson

Administrative Assistant

Simon Joost, PhD
Simon Joost

Postdoctoral Fellow; Hope Funds for Cancer Research Fellow

Zhuxuan Li
Zhuxuan Li

PhD Student

Jonathan Rub
Jonathan Rub

PhD Student

Hannah Styers
Hannah Styers

Research Technician

Carleigh Sussman, BS
Carleigh Sussman

Research Technician

Stefan Torborg
Stefan Torborg

MD-PhD Student; Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F30) Fellow

Yan Yan
Yan Yan

Postdoctoral Fellow

Xueqian Zhuang, PhD
Xueqian Zhuang

Postdoctoral Fellow; NYSTEM Training Award at the Center for Stem Cell Biology (CSCB)

Lab Alumni
Alexander Ferrena
Alexander Ferrena

Ph.D. Student, Computational Biology Program, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Griffin Hartmann, BS
Griffin Hartmann

Ph.D. Student, Stanford University

Matilda Holm
Matilda Holm

Postdoctoral Fellow, Karolinska Institute, Sweden

Anna Hudson
Anna Hudson

M.D./Ph.D. Student, University of Miami

Ken Pitter, MD, PhD
Ken Pitter

MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, OSUCCC, Columbus, Ohio

Katherine Wu, BS Senior Research Technician
Katherine Wu

M.D./Ph.D. Student, New York University

Lab Affiliations

Achievements

  • Josie Robertson Investigator (2017-2022)
  • The Mark Foundation Emerging Leader Award (2021)
  • Rita Allen Foundation Scholar (2020)
  • National Cancer Institute R37 MERIT Award (2020)
  • American Cancer Society Scholar (2020)
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  • V Foundation Scholar (2019)

Lab News & Events

Upcoming event

The Role of Stem Cell Niche in Aging and Cancer

This seminar will take place at M-107 and by Zoom webinar.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
Room M-107
New York, NY 10065

Open Positions

To learn more about available postdoctoral opportunities, please visit our Career Center

Career Opportunities

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Get in Touch

Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

Tuomas Tammela discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Gerson Lehrman Group
    Provision of Services
  • Guidepoint Global Advisors
    Provision of Services

The information published here is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.


This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2020 through disclosure submission in spring 2021). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at ecoi@mskcc.org.


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