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Susan L. Cohn, MD

  • Professor of Pediatrics
    Committee on Cancer Biology
    Committee on Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics
  • Clinical Interests: Neuroblastoma, Pediatric Hematology, Pediatric Oncology, Solid Tumors in Children, Stem cell transplantation/bone marrow transplantation
  • Research and Scholarly Interests: Biomarkers, Clinical Trials as Topic, Epigenetics, Neuroblastoma, pediatric oncology
  • Websites: Research Network Profile
  • Contact: scohn1@uchicago.edu
  • Graduate Programs: Cancer Biology, UChicago Biosciences

I have devoted my career to caring for children with neuroblastoma and conducting clinical and translational research focused on understanding the biologic underpinnings of high-risk neuroblastoma to identify new therapeutic targets. I have also led efforts to develop risk classification algorithms in the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) Task Force and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Through my leadership positions in COG, I have worked with my colleagues to translate laboratory findings into clinical trials for children with neuroblastoma. I am currently working closely with Dr. Mark Applebaum and Dr. Chuan He at the University of Chicago to investigate the epigenomic landscape of neuroblastoma and to develop liquid biopsy epigenomic biomarkers for response and survival. We are also conducting studies to determine the biological implications of the m6A epitranscriptome and are testing the anti-neuroblastoma activity of inhibitors of mRNA regulatory proteins. In studies with Dr. Desai, we are investigating the prognostic value of the immunogenomic determinants of the tumor microenvironment in high-risk neuroblastoma and other biomarkers to optimize treatment strategies for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. I am dedicated to training the next generation of leaders in cancer and academic medicine. I have mentored undergraduate students, medical students, residents, fellows and junior faculty, many of whom have gone on to have successful academic careers. I was appointed as the Inaugural Director of Faculty Scholars Program in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago in 2020 and also serve as the Director for Faculty Development, University of Chicago’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.