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Radiation Oncology

Kerns Laboratory

Location
MFRC 6009 (Lab)
MFRC 6010 (Office)

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Kerns Lab Group Photo
Kerns Lab research areas

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

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Benjamin George, BS

MD-MS Candidate Class of 2028

bngeorge@mcw.edu

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Sanchita Giri, MSc

Clinical Research Assistant II

sangiri@mcw.edu

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Jamare McMurtry

Data Specialist I

jmcmurtry@mcw.edu

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Ayokunle Olowofela, MD, MS

Postdoctoral Researcher

aolowofela@mcw.edu

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Lauren Smith, BS

Data Specialist I

MCW Collaborators

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William A. Hall, MD

Professor and Chair, Radiation Oncology; ٍٍٍ½خر Director, Froedtert Radiation Oncology; Bob Uecker Endowed Chair, Department of Surgery, School of Graduate Studies, ٍٍٍ½خر

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

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Paul Auer, PhD

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

pauer@mcw.edu

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Manzur Rahman Farazi, PhD

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

mfarazi@mcw.edu

Kerns Laboratory Funding

Kerns Lab 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

Recent Publications

  • (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

  • (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

  • (Clough AV, Mpala K, Taheri P, Toro LN, Beyer AM, Gasperetti T, Zhao M, Kerns S, Himburg HA, Audi SH.) Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Mar 08;27(5) PMID: 41828702 PMCID: PMC12986413 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105032664518 03/14/2026

  • (Kerns SL, Dinh PC Jr, Monahan PO, Fung C, Sesso HD, Feldman DR, Hamilton RJ, Vaughn DJ, Kollmannsberger C, Martin NE, Einhorn LH, Travis LB.) J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2026 Feb 13;24(3):81-90 PMID: 41698327 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105033245035 02/17/2026

  • (Kerns SL, Dinh PC Jr, Monahan PO, Fung C, Sesso HD, Feldman DR, Hamilton RJ, Pierazio P, Huddart R, Kollmannsberger C, Martin NE, Einhorn LH, Travis LB.) J Natl Cancer Inst. 2026 Feb 12 PMID: 41678227 02/12/2026

  • (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

  • (Bouzaki A, Vasquez Osorio E, Kerns S, van Herk M, Morris A, Shortall J, Azria D, Farcy-Jacquet MP, Chang-Claude J, Choudhury A, Dunning A, Lambrecht M, Avuzzi B, De Ruysscher D, Seibold P, Sperk E, Talbot C, Vega A, Veldeman L, Webb A, Rosenstein B, West C, Rancati T, Gioscio E, McWilliam A.) Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Dec 01;31(23):5006-5014 PMID: 41081635 PMCID: PMC12666314 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105023545804 10/13/2025

  • (Olowofela AS, Auer PL, Janelsins M, Mustian K, Conlin A, Onitilo AA, Melnik M, Li CS, Gada U, Sun H, Kerns SL.) JCO Precis Oncol. 2025 Sep;9:e2500303 PMID: 40956996 PMCID: PMC12442773 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105030959302 09/16/2025

Publications of from the

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