Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona, Ph.D. | UC Davis Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

Professor, Auburn Community Cancer Endowed Chair in Basic Science, and Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Academic Diversity
451 Health Sciences Drive
Davis Campus
Ph: 530-752-9654
lgcarvajal@health.ucdavis.edu

Research Interests

Our research group focuses on studying cancer genetic susceptibility, cancer genomics, and preclinical cancer research. We employ genetic, genomic, and functional approaches to identify novel cancer-causing genes and mutations in human populations, investigate the function of genetic variations associated with disease, and conduct preclinical studies to develop improved molecularly guided therapies. We are also interested in exploring somatic genetic pathways and the clonal architecture of common cancer types.

Graduate Group Affiliations

Epidemiology

See: A complete and updated list of publications »

Recent Significant Publications

Lott P, Chiu K, Quino JE, Vang AP, Lloyd MW, Srivastava A, PDXNet Consortium, Chuang JH, Carvajal-Carmona LG. "Development and application of genetic ancestry reconstruction methods to study diversity of patient-derived models in the NCI PDXNet Consortium". Cancer Research Communication, 2024, 84:2060–2072. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-23-1349

Halmai N, Carvajal-Carmona GL. "Advancing gastric cancer precision medicine with novel genomic screens". Journal of Pathology. 2023: 259: 359-361. doi: 10.1002/path.6046

Toal T, Estrada-Florez A, Polanco-Echeverry G, Sahasrabudhe R, Lott P, Suarez-Olaya J, Guevara-Tique A, Castro-Valencia F, Urayama S, Kirane A, Wei D, Rios-Sarabia N, Medrano R, Mantilla A, Echeverry de Polanco M, Torres J, Bohorquez-Lozano M, Carvajal-Carmona LG. "Multi-Regional Sequencing Analysis Reveals Extensive Genetic Heterogeneity in Gastric Cancer". Cancer Research Communications. 2022, 2(11): 1487-1496. doi: 10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-22-0149.

Quino JE, Perez F, Perez A, Vang A, Avendano L, Dang J, Chen M, Morales Arana A, Rocha S, Nuno M, Lara P, Fejerman L, Carvajal-Carmona L. "A cancer health needs assessment reveals important differences between US-born and foreign-born Latinos in California". Frontiers in Oncology. 2022, 12:883200. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.883200.

Halmai NB, Carvajal-Carmona LG. "Diversifying preclinical research tools: expanding patient-derived models to address cancer health disparities". Trends in Cancer. 2022, 8: 291-294.

Tuazon AMD, Lott P, Benavides J, Bohórquez M, Ramirez C, Criollo AA, Estrada-Florez AP, Mateus G, Velez A, Carmona J, Ramirez J, Garcia E, Polanco-Echeverry G, Stultz J, Alvarez C, Tapia T, Ashton-Prolla P, Rannala B, Vega A, Lazaro C, Tornero E, Infante M, De La Hoya M, Diez O, Browning BL, Teixeira MR, Carvallo P, Echeverry de Polanco MM, Carvajal-Carmona LG. "Haplotype analysis of the internationally distributed BRCA1 c.3331_3334delCAAG founder mutation reveals a common ancestral origin in Iberia". Breast Cancer Research, 2020, 22:108. doi: 10.1186/s13058-020-01341-3.

Peterlongo P, Carvajal-Carmona LG. "Accomplishments, Collaborative Projects and Future Initiatives in Breast Cancer Genetic Predisposition". Frontiers in Oncology, 2019; 9:841. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00841.

Lott PC, Carvajal-Carmona LG. "Resolving gastric cancer etiology: an update on genetic predisposition". Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2018. 3(12):874-883. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(18)30237-1.

Carvajal-Carmona LG. "Moving the needle in colorectal cancer genetics: it takes more than two to TANGO". British Journal of Cancer. 2018. 119:913-914. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-018-0219-2.

Carvajal-Carmona LG. "PALB2 as a new gastric cancer susceptibility gene: is the wait over?". Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2018. 3(7):451-452. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(18)30120-1.

Sahasrabudhe R, Lott P, Bohorquez, M, Toal T, Estrada. AP, Suarez JJ, Brea-Fernández A, Cameselle-Teijeiro J, Pinto C, Ramos I, Mantilla A, Prieto R, Corvalan A, Norero E, Alvarez C, Tapia T, Carvallo P, Gonzalez LM, Cock-Rada A, Solano A, Neffa F, Della Valle A, Yau C, Soares G, Borowsky A, Hu N, He L-J, Han X-Y, Latin American Gastric Cancer Genetics Collaborative Group, Taylor PR, Goldstein AM, Torres J, Echeverry M, Ruiz-Ponte C, Teixeira MR, Carvajal-Carmona, LG. "Germline mutations in PALB2, BRCA1 and RAD51C, which regulate DNA recombination repair, in patients with gastric cancer". Gastroenterology, 2017 (152):983-986

2024 Inducted into the Cell Press Atlas of Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists
2021 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research, UC Davis
2021 ADVANCE Scholar Award for outstanding scholarship and mentorship. UC Davis Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
2021 Presidential Leadership Fellow, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
2018 Dean’s Fellowship in Precision Health Equity, UC Davis School of Medicine
2014 K12 Paul Calabresi in Clinical Oncology
2014 Latino Aging Research Resource Center Scholar
2013 Outstanding Alumni Award. B.Sc. Animal Science, Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
2013 V Foundation Scholar
2011 Semi-finalist. Trainee Research Award, American Society for Human Genetics for abstract submission to the 12^th International Congress of Human Genetics. Montreal, Canada
2009 Winner of the Divisional Research Prize. Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford.
2009 Finalist. Neel Award for Young Investigators. International Genetic Epidemiology Society.
2008 Winner of the European Association for Cancer Research 40th Anniversary Research Award.
2004 Research Fellowship. London Research Institute, United Kingdom