Philipp Oberdoerffer, MS, PhD

Dr. Oberdoerffer is an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. His laboratory has made several important contributions highlighting how the epigenetic control of genome maintenance determines the cellular response to DNA damage, and ultimately malignant transformation.

Dr. Oberdoerffer received his Ph. D. in mouse genetics and immunology from the University of Cologne, Germany, and went on to pursue studies on the molecular biology of aging as a postdoc at Harvard Medical School. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins Medicine, Dr. Oberdoerffer directed a research laboratory at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where he last served as a program director for DNA replication and genome instability in the Division of Cancer Biology. 

Using a combination of molecular biology, epigenetics, imaging and mouse genetics, the Oberdoerffer lab investigates how epigenetic context can be manipulated to alter DNA repair pathways, and thereby prevent or interfere with malignant growth. Recent research interests further include the modulation of DNA repair outcomes through nuclear RNAs and their modifications. Dr. Oberdoerffer’s work has been recognized by the NCI Director’s Innovation award and a Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Award.