Benjamin D Hopkins, PhD
- ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Genetics and Genomic Sciences
- ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Oncological Sciences
Research Topics:
Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cancer Genetics, Drug Resistance, Growth Factors and Receptors, IGF-1 Receptor, Insulin, Insulin Receptor, Lipid Signaling, Liver, Lung, Metabolism, Metabolomics, Molecular Biology, Obesity, Oncogenes, Personalized Medicine, Phosphorylation, Protein Kinases, Protein Phosphatases, Signal Transduction, Translational Research, Tumor Suppressor Genes, TumorigenesisBenjamin D. Hopkins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Genomics and Genetic Sciences, and Oncological Sciences, is the co-leader of the Functional Genomics Pipeline at The Tisch Cancer Institute. Dr. Hopkins and his team work to design and run precision medicine workflows, in order to facilitate translational cancer research at Mount Sinai. The Functional Genomics Pipeline focuses on two primary screening modalities. First, using an automated high-throughput screening platform developed by Dr. Hopkins for the Functional Genomics Pipeline, the group works to identify tumor specific drug sensitivities. Second, for new compounds or targets the group runs “inverse” screens to identify patient populations which are most likely to respond to a given therapy. Both of these screening modalities are run on three-dimensional organoid models developed in the laboratory from patients at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Dr. Hopkins studies cellular signaling with an emphasis on how systemic metabolism regulates key oncogenic pathways, such as the PI3K/PTEN signaling cascade. The overarching goal of the Hopkins Laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms that lead to drug sensitivities so that they can be leveraged in the clinic to improve patient outcomes. His group focuses on Breast, Lung, and Pancreatic cancer. The laboratory is comprised of a mix of computational and cell biologists.
Dr. Hopkins is on Twitter at @LabHopkins
Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas
Cancer Biology [CAB], Genetics and Genomic Sciences [GGS]Education
BA, Amherst College
PhD, Columbia University
Weill Cornell Medical College
MA, Yale University
The overarching goal of the Hopkins laboratory is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underpin treatment efficacy. We focus on the use of patient derived models of cancer to identify the effects of patient specific factors upon oncogenic signaling and treatment efficacy. With the advent of high throughput sequencing it is now possible to identify the genetic events that give rise to and sustain each individual tumor, however our capacity to translate this information into effective clinical care remains limited. This gap in our capacity stems from a lack of clinically relevant models that would allow us to accurately compare the impact of multiple therapeutic strategies and relate them to clinical responses. Our functional genomics pipeline (FGP) integrates functional testingof high-fidelity patient derived models with comprehensive genomics and clinical data to find novel and druggable targets, redefinethe standard of patient diagnoses, and drastically improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the Hopkins lab seeks to develop new functional genomics workflows and collaborations to improve our capacity to identify effective therapeutic options for patients in need.
Visit the Hopkins Laboratory
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Hopkins during 2022 and/or 2023. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Company Founder:
- Faeth Therapeutics
Consulting:
- Faeth Therapeutics
Equity (Stock or stock options valued at greater than 5% ownership of a publicly traded company or equity of any value in a privately held company)
- Faeth Therapeutics
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.