Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Program Director, Breast Medical Oncology
Investigator, Ludwig Center at Harvard
Dr. Leif Ellisen is Breast Cancer Program Director and a senior Investigator at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also co-Leader of the Breast Cancer Program at the Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, MD and PhD degrees from Stanford University, and completed residency training, oncology fellowship training, and postdoctoral research training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and MGH, respectively. The Ellisen laboratory’s research is focused on pathogenesis of breast and other cancers, with a particular focus on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), incorporating studies of tissue-specific development, transcription factor networks, and therapeutic response. We were among the first to define the intra-tumoral heterogeneity of TNBC (Karaayvaz et al, Nature Comms 2018); our work has revealed fundamental new genetic mechanisms in HR+ breast cancer (Rheinbay et al, Nature 2017; Matissek et al, Cancer Discovery 2018) and has elucidated a new oncogene controlling the tumor epigenome (Saladi et al, Cancer Cell 2017). We discovered that DNA damage and altered signaling precede histologic abnormalities in noncancerous breast tissues of BRCA2 mutation carriers (Karaayvaz et al, Science Advances 2020), and we applied our findings in a multi-center clinical trial that seeks to change the treatment paradigm for BRCA1/2-associated breast cancers (Spring et al, Nature Cancer 2022). Recent impactful work involves key studies to unravel the therapeutic mechanisms of antibody-drug conjugates that are revolutionizing breast cancer treatment (Coates et al, Cancer Discovery 2021; Bardia et al, Clinical Cancer Research 2024).
The Ellisen lab is uniquely positioned to work at the interface of basic tumor biology and therapeutic application. The lab’s work is strongly supported by a network of collaborators and by the extensive research and clinical infrastructure of the MGH Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School.
Postdoctoral Fellow
I am originally from China. I received my BA degree in Quantitative Economics and my BS degree in Chemistry with a minor in Biological Sciences and a concentration in Biochemistry from University of California, Irvine. I then completed my PhD degree in Biological Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. My primary research focus in the Ellisen Lab includes 1) taking a multiomics approach to elucidate the mechanisms underlying immunotherapy resistance in TNBC, 2) establishing exosome-based diagnosis and prognosis for TNBC, and 3) developing exosome-based therapeutics for TNBC.
Postdoctoral Fellow
I am from Palm Harbor, FL and completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida with a major in Biotechnology. My PhD research was conducted at Moffitt Cancer Center where I investigated the causes and consequences of acidosis in breast cancer with considerable interest in the interplay between metabolic phenotypes and tumor evolution. My current focus in the Ellisen Lab is investigating how metabolic phenotypes may influence patterns of late-recurrence in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer patients and how we can use this knowledge to predict or prevent late-recurrence in patients.
Postdoctoral Fellow
I am originally from China and learnt and practiced medicine at Capital Medical University, Beijing, where I completed my medical residency training in cardiothoracic surgery. I later earned an M.S. and a Ph.D – both in Biomedical Science (concentration: breast oncology and pathology), from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. My current works in the Ellisen Lab involve 1) using multiomics approach to deconvolute tumor heterogeneity of TNBC (the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer) for further powering therapeutic discovery across multiple levels of cancer biology, and 2) dissecting early pathogenesis of BRCA1/2-associated cancer for risk prediction and prevention.
Visiting Research Scientist
I am originally from China and received my undergraduate degree in Clinical Medicine from the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. I completed my MD in Oncology at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. In July 2022, I moved to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University as a breast surgeon. My current research in the Ellisen Lab involves studying the tumor microenvironment and mechanisms of novel antibody drug conjugates.
Bioinformatician
I am originally from Hyderabad, India. I received my Bachelor of Arts degrees in Molecular & Cell Biology and Data Science from the University of California, Berkeley. My current work at the Ellisen Lab involves analyzing multi-omics data from patients to uncover molecular mechanisms driving breast cancer and to investigate disparities in TNBC occurrence and outcomes among different patient populations. In the future, I hope to further my education in research and medicine.
Research Assistant
Coming Soon
Research Assistant
I am originally from Johannesburg, South Africa. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from Bates College in Maine. My current research interests involve disparities in TNBC occurrence and survival rates between African American and Caucasian American women and early driving factors in precancerous breast tissue that predict cancer formation in patients with genetic defects in homologous repair pathways. In the future, I plan to further my education in neuroscience while focusing on patient welfare and disparities research.
Research Assistant
I am originally from Worcester, Massachusetts and I received my Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Wellesley College. My current research interests focus on the relationship between cellular metabolism and hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer recurrence, and more broadly the interplay between tumor metabolism and developmental state. In the future, I hope to further my education in order to pursue a career in oncology research.
PhD Student
TNBC Program Coordinator
Clinical Research Coordinator
I am originally from Massachusetts. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology and my Certificate in Global Health from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. I am interested in preventive medicine and improving disparities in cancer care, while learning how research and clinical care inform one another. My future plan is to further my education in medicine and public health.
Clinical Research Coordinator
I am originally from Massachusetts, and I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biobehavioral Health from Pennsylvania State University – University Park. I am interested in preventative medicine, improving cancer outcomes, and addressing disparities in health care. In the future, I plan to continue my education in medicine and public health to continue to help those in need.
Laboratory Manager
Coming Soon
Program Manager
I am originally from Southern California. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Neuroscience from University of California, San Diego. I am interested in improving patient outcomes by bridging the gap between research and clinical care. In the future, I plan to further my education in healthcare in pursuit of optimizing patient care.
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