Research Interests
The Floyd Lab focuses on studying mechanisms of DNA damage signaling and repair in brain tumor and other mammalian cells. Specifically, we focus on how chromatin changes mediated by epigenetic modifiers affect the DNA damage response. It is our hope that deeper knowledge regarding the DNA damage response will lead to improved cancer treatments, especially for brain tumor patients.
Dr. Floyd is a radiation oncologist and brain tumor specialist with first-hand knowledge of the devastating impact of brain tumors and side effects of many current cancer therapies. His lab develops small animal irradiation techniques and mouse models of glioblastoma to test the effects of epigenetic writers and readers on the DDR in more clinically relevant model systems. In this way, we hope to identify strategies to augment tumor cell killing, and/or protect the vital normal tissues for the brain.
Clinically, Dr. Floyd specializes in the treatment of benign, primary and metastatic tumors of the brain and spine.
Selected Grants
NEUROD1 function in SCLC fate and plasticity
ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029Synthetic lethality with BET bromodomain inhibition
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2025 - 2026Elucidating Brain Tumor Biology and Response to Radiotherapy Using Cell-Free-DNA Methylation Signatures
ResearchCo-Mentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2026Exploring synthetic lethality with a novel very high energy electron FLASH radiation beam
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2026Super-FLASH radiation therapy for pediatric brain tumors
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Ian's Friends Foundation · 2024 - 2025Duke Radiation Oncology and Radiology Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (Year 4)
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2025A consortium effort to translate therapies for neurological diseases via an immune-competent organotypic platform
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2021 - 2025A novel platform to determine RABEP2 function as a therapeutic target in human ischemic stroke
ResearchCo-Mentor · Awarded by American Heart Association · 2022 - 2025ASPET SURF Institutional Award
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEParticipating Faculty Member · Awarded by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics · 2018 - 2025Development of MESH1 inhibitors to treat ferroptosis-associated neurodegeneration
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2024Living Patient Avatars for Tumor Microenvironment Discovery
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Ian's Friends Foundation · 2023 - 2024BMX-001 AS A THERAPEUTIC AGENT FOR TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE BRAIN METASTASES
Clinical TrialCo Investigator · Awarded by BioMimetix JV LLC · 2018 - 2023Novel Targets for Stroke Intervention - Gene Discovery for Modulators of Infarction
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2023Role of BRD4 in the cancer cell replication stress response
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2019 - 2023Cabinet Radiation Therapy System for Small Animals
EquipmentMajor User · Awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center · 2022 - 2023Image-Guided Radiation Therapy System for Small Animals
EquipmentMajor User · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2022Medical Scientist Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1997 - 2022Patient Avatars for Pediatric Brain Tumors
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Ian's Friends Foundation · 2020 - 2021A 3D ex vivo orthotopic xenograft screening platform to identify radiosensitization targets and druggability in glioma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2021Native and bioprinted 3D tissue array platform for predicting cancer metastasis
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2018 - 2020Burroughs Wellcome Fund Agreement
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Burroughs Wellcome Fund · 2015 - 2019External Relationships
- Roundtable Research
This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.