Suzanne J. Baker PhD

Suzanne Baker received her PhD degree in Molecular Biology and Human Genetics from The Johns Hopkins University, where she trained with Dr. Bert Vogelstein. After postdoctoral training with Dr. Tom Curran at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, she joined the faculty at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she holds the Endowed Chair in Brain Tumor Research. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Basic Research and Co-Leader of the Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program in the St Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Director of the Division of Brain Tumor Research.

Baker laboratory is focused on understanding the underlying molecular, cellular and genetic mechanisms driving high-grade gliomas, including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) in children. Ongoing work in her laboratory evaluates genetic and epigenetic features of primary tumors and incorporates these genomic discoveries into the design and analysis of in vitro and in vivo models for mechanistic studies and preclinical testing. The unique genetic landscape of these tumors highlights critical connections between development, epigenetics and cancer.