Researcher Spotlight: Thomas Corner, DPhil.

Yale University

The protein EZH2 has been found to be involved in lymphoma development and progression, and medications that inhibit its activity are important options in the treatment of lymphoma. Dr. Corner’s research is focused on developing novel molecules that not only inhibit EZH2 but also enhance other beneficial effects that occur as a result of EZH2 inhibition. “I anticipate this ‘push-and-pull’ mechanism will enhance the anti-lymphoma activity of EZH2-targeted therapeutics, offering potential to improve clinical outcomes for lymphoma patients,” he explains. “I believe similar approaches may be applied to sensitize lymphomas toward inactivation of [other] epigenetic targets, providing multiple opportunities for the development of innovative lymphoma treatments.”

Dr. Corner is a postdoctoral associate at Yale University in Connecticut. He earned a master’s degree in the natural sciences from the University of Cambridge and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Through his research, he aims to contribute to the development of targeted lymphoma therapies that spare patients of the many side effects seen with chemotherapies, thereby improving treatment experiences and outcomes. “I hope that through my research, lymphoma treatments with improved safety profiles and efficacy can be developed,” he says.

Building on his experiences as a Foundation fellow, Dr. Corner hopes to continue contributing to the advancement of the field through the mentorship of the next generation of lymphoma researchers. “I hope that my research group will equip its scientists with multi-disciplinary expertise ideally suited for leading future high-impact drug discovery projects in lymphoma research,” he says.