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Christopher M. Counter

George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology
Pharmacology & Cancer Biology
Duke Box 3813, Durham, NC 27710
C225 Lev Sci Res Ctr, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


The Counter lab studies the molecular mechanisms that underly to the onset of human cancers, with the goal to prevent cancer initiation or progression.  The lab uses ultra-senstitive sequencing platforms and proteomic-coupled CRISPR/Cas9 screens to elucidate the factors that mold the mutational patterns selected to initiate the process of tumorigenesis.  See https://counter.labs.duke.edu/ for further details.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology · 2021 - Present Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Basic Science Departments
Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology · 2011 - Present Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Basic Science Departments
Assistant Professor in Radiation Oncology · 2020 - Present Radiation Oncology, Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Cell Biology · 2022 - Present Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2002 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published January 11, 2023
In Search of Early Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer
Published May 19, 2022
Fly Researchers Find Another Layer to the Code of Life
Published June 28, 2021
Duke Awards 22 Distinguished Professorships

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Recent Publications


The essential clathrin adapter protein complex-2 is tumor suppressive specifically in vivo.

Journal Article Nat Commun · March 6, 2025 The microenvironment is a rich source of new cancer targets. We thus used a targeted single-guide RNA library to screen a panel of human pancreatic cancer lines for genes uniquely affecting tumorigenesis. Here we show inactivation of the Adapter Protein co ... Full text Link to item Cite

p53 dosage can impede KrasG12D- and KrasQ61R-mediated tumorigenesis.

Journal Article PLoS One · 2024 Mice engineered with a G12D versus Q61R mutation in Kras exhibited differences in tumorigenesis. Namely, the incidence or grade of oral or forestomach squamous epithelial lesions was more prevalent in the KrasG12D background while hematolymphopoietic disea ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Identification and targeting of essential regions of driver fusion oncoproteins in rhabdomyosarcoma

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by V Foundation for Cancer Research · 2025 - 2030

Pharmacological Sciences Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

Duke Research Training Program in Surgical Oncology

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2024 - 2029

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Education, Training & Certifications


McMaster University (Canada) · 1996 Ph.D.
McMaster University (Canada) · 1990 B.S.