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Lee Zou

George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor
Pharmacology & Cancer Biology

Current Appointments & Affiliations


George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor · 2024 - Present Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Basic Science Departments
Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology · 2023 - Present Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Basic Science Departments
Chair, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology · 2023 - Present Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Basic Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2023 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published March 19, 2024
Duke Awards 32 New Distinguished Professorships for 2024
Published November 9, 2023
Immunotherapy Plus an Investigational Cancer Drug Improves Anti-Tumor Effects

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Recent Publications


Gap resection matters in BRCA mutant cancer.

Journal Article Genes Dev · May 2, 2025 Cancer cells deficient in BRCA1/2 have impaired DNA repair, making them sensitive to PARP inhibitors (PARPis). In this issue of Genes & Development, Seppa and colleagues (doi:10.1101/gad.352421.124) investigated how BRCA1 protects single-stranded DNA gaps ... Full text Link to item Cite

A Translational Study of the ATR Inhibitor Berzosertib as Monotherapy in Four Molecularly Defined Cohorts of Advanced Solid Tumors.

Journal Article Clin Cancer Res · January 6, 2025 PURPOSE: Preclinical studies have identified molecular correlates of sensitivity to ATR inhibition. This translational study was designed to test the ATR inhibitor berzosertib in patients with advanced solid tumors carrying alterations in ATRX, ataxia-tela ... Full text Link to item Cite

Regulation, functional impact, and therapeutic targeting of APOBEC3A in cancer.

Journal Article DNA repair · September 2024 Enzymes of the apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide like (APOBEC) family are cytosine deaminases that convert cytosine to uracil in DNA and RNA. Among these proteins, APOBEC3 sub-family members, APOBEC3A (A3A) and APOBEC3B (A3B), are promine ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Mechanisms of APOBEC3A-induced cancer evolution and cancer vulnerability

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Massachusetts General Hospital · 2024 - 2029

Understanding and targeting the DNA replication stress in cancer cells

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2023 - 2028

ASPET SURF Institutional Award

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEParticipating Faculty Member · Awarded by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics · 2018 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


Stony Brook University · 1999 Ph.D.