Chris Frank
About Chris Frank
Chris Frank is a Senior Scientist specializing in Translational Genomics at Verge Genomics, where he has worked since 2020. He has a background in epigenome-targeted cancer therapies and has held various research and teaching positions in prestigious institutions.
Work at Verge Genomics
Chris Frank has been serving as a Senior Scientist in Translational Genomics at Verge Genomics since 2020. In this role, he focuses on advancing genomic research and its applications in therapeutic development. His expertise in translational genomics contributes to the company's mission of leveraging genomic data to improve drug discovery and development processes.
Education and Expertise
Chris Frank holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics from the University of Maryland College Park, which he completed from 2006 to 2010. He further pursued his education at Duke University, where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from 2010 to 2015. His academic background equips him with a strong foundation in gene expression regulation, particularly in relation to neurological and intestinal development.
Background
Before joining Verge Genomics, Chris Frank gained extensive experience in various research roles. He worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2016, where he developed novel in vitro neurotoxicity screening methods. He also held a position as a Senior Scientist at UCB from 2018 to 2020, focusing on drug discovery. Additionally, he was a founding scientist at Element Genomics, emphasizing genome and epigenome editing technologies.
Previous Positions
Chris Frank has held several notable positions throughout his career. He worked as a Graduate Student at Duke University from 2010 to 2015, where he conducted significant research in molecular genetics. He also served as a Bass Endowment Teaching Fellow at Duke University in 2014 and as an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow at the University of Maryland in 2009. These roles contributed to his teaching and mentoring experience in the scientific community.
Research Contributions
During his PhD studies, Chris Frank focused on epigenome-targeted cancer therapies, contributing to the understanding of chromatin-based regulation of gene expression. His research efforts have led to the development of innovative methods in neurotoxicity screening and have implications for drug discovery and therapeutic interventions in various diseases.