Lara Sucheston-Campbell, Ph.D.
Address
87 E Canfield Street, MidMed Lofts, Detroit, MI 48201Department
Oncology
Research interests
· Studies how inherited and acquired genomic variation influence cancer susceptibility, immune response, and treatment outcomes.
· Integrates germline, somatic, and immune profiling to understand mechanisms of disease initiation and progression in hematologic malignancies.
· Uses large-scale genomic and multi-omics data to model genetic risk and host–tumor interactions across diverse populations.
· Applies translational genetics and counseling principles to develop clinically relevant, risk-stratified approaches to cancer prevention and surveillance.
Research description
I am a genetic and molecular epidemiologist whose research integrates genomics, immunology, and clinical genetics to advance precision oncology in hematologic and solid tumors. Over the past 13 years, I have led large-scale genomic studies spanning germline and somatic variation, with prior leadership roles at Genentech, Roche, and a diagnostic start-up, where I worked at the interface of functional genomics, biomarker discovery, and clinical translation. I also hold an MS in Genetic Counseling, which deepens my focus on patient-centered approaches to genomic medicine.
My research investigates how inherited and acquired genomic factors influence cancer susceptibility, immune response, and post-treatment outcomes. In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), my lab was the first to demonstrate that non-HLA donor genetic variation significantly impacts survival, identifying allelic series in druggable pathways and pathogenic variants in DNA repair genes. Our mosaicism analyses further revealed that both the burden and chromosomal location of clonal events in acute leukemias shape post-transplant outcomes.
Beyond HSCT, my group led the first and largest genome-wide association studies of AML and MDS and continues to dissect genetic risk across diverse populations. I also study the genetic architecture and gene–environment interactions in lymphoma and develop multi-ancestry polygenic risk models. Building on this foundation, our current work extends to lymphomas, MGUS, and multiple myeloma, leveraging funded infrastructure to interrogate germline–immune–metabolic pathways that drive disease initiation and progression. As both a genetic counselor and genetic epidemiologist, I am committed to translating genomic discoveries into clinically actionable, risk-stratified surveillance strategies.
PubMed - my bibliography
Education/training
BS (1995) English - Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
BS (2001) Economics - Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
MS (2003) Industrial Engineering-Operations Research - University of Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY
PhD (2007) Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
MS (2022) Genetic Counseling - The Ohio State University