Our Faculty

Evgeny G Izumchenko, PhD

Dr. Izumchenko received his Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (B.Med.Lab.) and Master degree in Clinical Biochemistry (M.Med.Sc.) from Ben-Gurion University (BGU) School of Medicine, Israel, where he graduated summa cum laude from the Faculty of Health Sciences. He received his Ph.D. from Ben-Gurion University via the BGU/Fox Chase Cancer Center Partnership Graduate Research Program. He has performed thesis work in the laboratory of Dr. Erica Golemis, an internationally recognized cancer biologist, and his studies provided some of the earliest insights on the role of NEDD9 in the early stages of cancer development. He completed his first postdoctoral training with Dr. Kevin Brown and Dr. Stratford May at the University of Florida, with an NIH postdoctoral fellowship supporting his research. His studies described a novel mechanism by which dysregulation of genomic stability drives cancer development. Dr. Izumchenko joined the lab of Dr. David Sidransky at Johns Hopkins University in 2012, where he carried out seminal work in defining the clonal evolution and heterogeneity in several solid tumor types, at both the genetic and epigenetic levels. Based on his record of research accomplishments, he was invited to join the Department of Otolaryngology as an Instructor in 2016, and subsequently was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor in May, 2017. Dr. Izumchenko joined the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago in 2019. His research focus is on understanding the complex interplay between the genetic and epigenetic alterations in carcinogenesis and disease progression, and on exploiting this understanding for developing novel biomarkers for diagnosis and risk stratification as well as in identifying targets for therapeutic intervention. Specifically, he is interested in defining the drivers underlying the premalignant progression and early immune evasion. Dr. Izumchenko has focused his research on cancers of upper aerodigestive tract, which is a very challenging area of oncology. He is actively engaged in partnering with researchers and oncologists in academia and pharmaceutical industry worldwide, to advance discovery of biomarkers for early cancer detection and risk assessment, personalized therapy, and novel anti-cancer interventions.

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Postdoctoral Fellow - Cancer Research
2016

University of Florida, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Gainesville, FL
Postdoctoral Fellow - Cancer Research
2012

Ben-Gurion University, School of Medicine
Israel
Ph.D. - Cancer Research
2010

Ben-Gurion University, Dept of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology
Israel
M.Med.Sc. - Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology
2005

A small-molecule TNIK inhibitor targets fibrosis in preclinical and clinical models.
A small-molecule TNIK inhibitor targets fibrosis in preclinical and clinical models. Nat Biotechnol. 2024 Mar 08.
PMID: 38459338

Evolutionary dynamics of tipifarnib in HRAS mutated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Evolutionary dynamics of tipifarnib in HRAS mutated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Oncol. 2024 Feb; 149:106688.
PMID: 38219706

A comprehensive AI-driven analysis of large-scale omic datasets reveals novel dual-purpose targets for the treatment of cancer and aging.
A comprehensive AI-driven analysis of large-scale omic datasets reveals novel dual-purpose targets for the treatment of cancer and aging. Aging Cell. 2023 Dec; 22(12):e14017.
PMID: 37888486

Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Screening in Asymptomatic People without Known Nasopharyngeal Cancer.
Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Screening in Asymptomatic People without Known Nasopharyngeal Cancer. NEJM Evid. 2023 Jul; 2(7):EVIDe2300077.
PMID: 38320171

Unexpected heterogeneity in oropharyngeal squamous cell tumors.
Unexpected heterogeneity in oropharyngeal squamous cell tumors. Nat Genet. 2023 04; 55(4):534-535.
PMID: 37016098

Microbial Changes Associated With Oral Cavity Cancer Progression.
Microbial Changes Associated With Oral Cavity Cancer Progression. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 06; 168(6):1443-1452.
PMID: 36939272

Author Correction: A nanoengineered topical transmucosal cisplatin delivery system induces anti-tumor response in animal models and patients with oral cancer.
Author Correction: A nanoengineered topical transmucosal cisplatin delivery system induces anti-tumor response in animal models and patients with oral cancer. Nat Commun. 2022 Dec 21; 13(1):7865.
PMID: 36543765

High-confidence cancer patient stratification through multiomics investigation of DNA repair disorders.
High-confidence cancer patient stratification through multiomics investigation of DNA repair disorders. Cell Death Dis. 2022 Nov 26; 13(11):999.
PMID: 36435816

OrganoID: A versatile deep learning platform for tracking and analysis of single-organoid dynamics.
OrganoID: A versatile deep learning platform for tracking and analysis of single-organoid dynamics. PLoS Comput Biol. 2022 11; 18(11):e1010584.
PMID: 36350878

A nanoengineered topical transmucosal cisplatin delivery system induces anti-tumor response in animal models and patients with oral cancer.
A nanoengineered topical transmucosal cisplatin delivery system induces anti-tumor response in animal models and patients with oral cancer. Nat Commun. 2022 08 17; 13(1):4829.
PMID: 35977936

View All Publications

Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM) Pilot Award
University of Chicago
2023

Cancer Research Foundation Breakthrough Award
University of Chicago
2023

Janet Rowley Research Day Poster Awards (Winner)
University of Chicago
2023

Department of Defense Idea Award
University of Chicago
2023

Provost’s Global Faculty Award - India and South Asia
University of Chicago
2022

First Place Prize ay the 26th Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) Competition
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
2022

George Shultz Innovation Fund (GSIF) early-stage tech venture Award
University of Chicago
2022

V Foundation for Cancer Research Award
University of Chicago
2022

Janet D. Rowley Discovery Award
University of Chicago
2022

AbbVie-UChicago Collaboration Award
University of Chicago
2021

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation (ACCRF) Award
University of Chicago
2020

The U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation Award
University of Chicago
2020

University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center Pilot Project Award
University of Chicago
2020

Janet D. Rowley Discovery Award
University of Chicago
2019

2019 Cancer Spotlights Award
University of Chicago
2019

2017 ALCF-IASLC Fellowship Award for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer
Johns Hopkins University
2017

Head and Neck Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence Pilot Grant Award
Johns Hopkins University
2016

Career Development Award (Head and Neck SPORE)
Johns Hopkins University
2016

The most cited manuscript in Cancer Prevention Research journal
Johns Hopkins University
2015

Fox Chase Cancer Center Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Research Award
Fox Chase Cancer Center
2008

The Kreitman Foundation Ph.D. Fellowship
Ben-Gurion University
2007

Dean Award and Prize for Academic Achievements
Ben-Gurion University
2005

American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) research fellowship
Ben-Gurion University
2005