Kerns Laboratory

Location
MFRC 6009 (Lab)
MFRC 6010 (Office)

Research Areas

The Kerns lab studies inherited genetic predisposition to development of late toxicities resulting from cancer treatment. Approaches include genome-wide association studies (GWAS), analysis of circulating biomarkers, and analysis of gene expression and epigenetic changes using biospecimens from patients undergoing treatment for cancer. The long-term goal of our research is to develop predictive models for use in the clinic to better personalize cancer treatment and survivorship care. Research conducted in the lab also aims to uncover novel biologic pathways that might be targeted to prevent or mitigate the toxic effects of cancer treatment. Much of this work is done collaboratively, through research consortia, to facilitate large-scale clinical genomic studies. Dr. Kerns is a leader in the NCI-supported and a member of the NIH-funded .

Current Members

Benjamin George, BS

MD-MS Candidate Class of 2028

bngeorge@mcw.edu

Sanchita Giri, MSc

Clinical Research Assistant II

sangiri@mcw.edu

Ayokunle Olowofela, MD, MS

Medical Resident, PGY2

aolowofela@mcw.edu

Lauren Smith, BS

Data Specialist I

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William A. Hall, MD

Professor and Chair, Radiation Oncology; Medical Director, Froedtert Radiation Oncology; Bob Uecker Endowed Chair, Department of Surgery, School of Graduate Studies, 成人快手

Clinical and research interests include pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, MRI guided radiation therapy, renal cell carcinoma and rectal cancer.

Paul Auer, PhD

Cancer Center Scholar; Director, Biostatistics Shared Resource, Cancer Center; Professor, Data Science Institute, Biostatistics

pauer@mcw.edu

Manzur Rahman Farazi, PhD

Statistical Research Scientist II, Data Science Institute - Division of Biostatistics

mfarazi@mcw.edu

Kerns Laboratory Funding

all

Current Funding

NIH/NCI R01CA291956
“Targeting angiotensin and inflammation to prevent radiotherapy-induced bladder toxicity”
(MPI: Marples, Kerns), 08/01/2024 – 07/31/2029

NIH/NCI R21CA280170
“The urinary microbiome and bladder toxicity after pelvic radiotherapy”
(MPI: Marples, Gill, Kerns), 08/01/2024 – 07/31/2026

NIH/NCI R01CA285801
“Multi-cohort validation of machine learning radiogenomic models (ML-RGx) to predict late toxicity in prostate cancer”
(MPI: Kerns, Hall, Oh), 07/01/2024 - 06/30/2029

NIH/NCI R01CA280115
“Clinical and pre-clinical investigation of extracellular vesicles as a mechanism of toxicity in the bladder of prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy”
(PI: Lee), 04/01/2024 – 03/31/2029

Completed Funding

NIH/NCI MP2PRT 22X016Q (subcontract to HHSN26100039)
“Evaluation of an inflammation polygenic risk score (iPRS) to predict cancer related cognitive impairment and fatigue in patients receiving chemotherapy for non-metastatic breast cancer in URCC0701 and URCC10055”
(PI: Kerns), 07/19/2022 – 12/31/2024

NIH/NCI UG1CA189961
“Biobank to Support Translational Research”
(MPIs: Janelsins, Kerns), 9/01/2021 – 8/31/2022

NIH/NCI K07CA187546
"Risk Prediction for Development of Adverse Effects Following Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer”
(PI: Kerns), 9/18/2015 – 8/31/2021

Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Research Development Funding Program
“Elucidating the Role of the Renin-Angiotensin Pathway in Development of Hemorrhagic Radiation Cystitis”
(PIs: Kerns and Marples), 7/01/2020 – 6/30/2021

NIH/SBIR HHSN261201500043C
"Predictive Biomarkers of Adverse Reactions to Prostate Radiotherapy”
(PIs: Peterson-Roth, Kerns, Rosenstein), 9/1/2015 – 9/18/2020

DOD PC140371
"Genetic Modeling of Radiation Injury in Prostate Cancer Patients Treated With Radiotherapy”
(PIs: Rosenstein and Ostrer; UR site PI: Kerns), 9/1/2015 – 8/31/2018

(Jandu HK, Olowofela A, Shuey M, Quade K, Tuftin B, Raffield LM, Li Y, Cox N, Auer PL, Kerns SL.) HGG Adv. 2026 Oct 08;7(4):100671 PMID: 42698209 PMCID: PMC13633906 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105051191772 09/05/2026
(Webb AJ, Harper E, Rattay T, Aguado-Barrera ME, Avuzzi B, Bultijnck R, Choudhury A, De Ruysscher DK, Fuentes-Ríos O, Gutiérrez-Enríquez S, Kerns SL, Lobato-Busto R, McWilliam A, Noris Chiorda B, Rancati T, Rosenstein BS, Seibold P, Sperk E, Vega A, Veldeman L, Ward TH, West CM, Symonds P, Talbot CJ, REQUITE Consortium, REQUITE Consortium.) Clin Cancer Res. 2026 Oct 01;32(19):4384-4395 PMID: 42440347 PMCID: PMC13628092 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105052251158 07/13/2026
(Heumann P, Romero JCR, Aguado Barrera ME, Aguado Flor E, Avuzzi B, Azria D, Briers E, Carballo-Castro A, Chang-Claude J, Choudhury A, Dunning A, Elliott RM, Fachal L, Farcy-Jacquet MP, Gómez-Caamaño A, Gutiérrez-Enríquez S, Herskind C, Kaaks R, Kerns SL, Lambrecht M, Maldonado X, Michalet M, Chiorda BN, Peleteiro-Higueiro P, Rattay T, Rosenstein BS, De Ruysscher D, Sperk E, Stobart H, Symonds RP, Talbot CJ, Tubío-Abuín MA, Vega A, Veldeman L, Veldwijk MR, Ward T, Webb A, West CML, REQUITE/REQUITEplus/RADprecise consortia, Seibold P, Rancati T.) Clin Transl Radiat Oncol. 2026 Sep;60:101219 PMID: 42500362 PMCID: PMC13396611 07/25/2026
(Sun X, Dong A, Li L, Tsai Y, Wu XR, Kerns S, Marples B, Chen L, Gorbunova V, Sun Y, Zhang T, Chen Y.) Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2026 Aug 01 PMID: 42542301 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105050763545 08/02/2026
(Oh JH, Auer P, Hall W, Rosenstein BS, Deasy JO, Kerns S.) Radiother Oncol. 2026 Jun;219:111531 PMID: 41967608 PMCID: PMC13135471 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105035768838 04/13/2026
(Wang Y, Tuftin B, Raffield LM, Hidalgo B, Kerns SL, DeWan AT, Leal SM, Auer PL.) medRxiv. 2026 Apr 27 PMID: 42094175 PMCID: PMC13142572 05/07/2026
(Heumann P, Aguado-Barrera ME, Jandu HK, Azria D, Briers E, Bultijnck R, Chang-Claude J, Choudhury A, Dunning AM, Fachal L, Fuentes-Ríos O, Gómez-Caamaño A, Gutiérrez-Enríquez S, Kaaks R, Kerns SL, Lambrecht M, Romero JCR, Rosenstein BS, De Ruysscher D, Schmidt ME, Sperk E, Stobart H, Symonds RP, Veldeman L, Veldwijk MR, Ward T, Webb A, West CML, Rancati T, Rattay T, Vega A, REQUITE Consortium, Talbot CJ, Seibold P.) Nat Commun. 2026 Apr 22;17(1) PMID: 42020408 PMCID: PMC13102951 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105036608152 04/23/2026
(Heumann P, Romero JCR, Aguado Barrera ME, Aguado Flor E, Avuzzi B, Azria D, Briers E, Carballo-Castro A, Chang-Claude J, Choudhury A, Dunning A, Elliott RM, Fachal L, Farcy-Jacquet MP, Gómez-Caamaño A, Gutiérrez-Enríquez S, Herskind C, Kaaks R, Kerns SL, Lambrecht M, Maldonado X, Michalet M, Chiorda BN, Peleteiro-Higueiro P, Rattay T, Rosenstein BS, De Ruysscher D, Sperk E, Stobart H, Symonds RP, Talbot CJ, Tubío-Abuín MA, Vega A, Veldeman L, Veldwijk MR, Ward T, Webb A, West CML, Seibold P, Rancati T.) Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology. September 2026;60 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105044839634 09/01/2026

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