Dr. Geoffrey Girnun

Dr. Geoffrey Girnun examined the relationship between essential fatty acids, which we now know are useful for maintaining healthy cells, and how they control enzymes in cells that defend against oxidant stress at the University of Iowa, where he received his BS and PhD. He completed his postdoctoral training at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, where he worked on fundamental questions of cell development, discovered new genes that protect against cancer, and developed therapeutic approaches for some of the most common and drug-resistant cancers. In 2007, Geoffrey Girnun founded his own lab at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, then from 2013 to 2019, he was at Stony Brook University. Dr. Geoffrey Girnun produced groundbreaking discoveries relating metabolic pathways to cancer during that time. He also created proof-of-concept therapeutics that target these pathways. Dr. Girnun has also worked as a consultant for early stage investors, hedge funds, small biotech startups, and big pharmaceutical firms. Reading, being outside, exercising, and spending time with friends and family are some of his favorite pastimes.