Brian D. Piening, PhD
Earle A. Chiles Research Institute
Providence Cancer Institute
Technical director, Molecular Genomics Laboratory
Providence St. Joseph Health
Dr. Piening is trained in genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. Along with leading the Cancer Immuno-Genomics Lab at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a Providence Center of Excellence for immuno-oncology and cellular therapy, he also serves as technical director of Clinical Genomics at the Providence Molecular Genomics Lab. There, he uses comprehensive genomic profiling to develop personalized treatment plans for people with advanced cancer. The laboratory is one of only a handful in the world that performs whole genome sequencing in a clinical context and is the dedicated clinical sequencing facility for Providence.
Dr. Piening oversees the Molecular Pathology Core facility at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute. He also serves as an assistant professor for bioinformatics and medical education at the University of Washington and assistant professor of biology at Portland State University.
At the Cancer Immuno-Genomics Lab, Dr. Piening and his team use sequencing, mass spectrometry and other technologies to gain new insights into human health and disease. A key focus of the lab is to develop multi-omic biomarkers to better predict how patients will respond to precision therapies and immunotherapies.
Using novel epigenomic, single cell and spatial approaches, the team seeks to comprehensively profile the tumor microenvironment (the tumor and its surrounding areas) to better understand why therapies succeed or fail. The team also applies these approaches for risk stratification across other clinical applications including organ transplantation failure, preterm birth and obesity/metabolic disease.
- Postdoctoral, Genetics, Stanford University, 2016
- Doctor of Philosophy, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington, 2013
- Bachelor of Science, Physics and Astronomy, University of Washington, 2003
- Affiliate assistant professor, Department of Biology, Portland State University, 2021-present
- Affiliate assistant professor, Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, 2020-present
- Technical director of Clinical Genomics, Providence St. Joseph Health, 2019-present
- Assistant member, Cancer Immuno-Genomics Laboratory, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, 2018-present
- Associate director of Clinical Genomics, Providence St. Joseph Health, 2016-2019
- Postdoctoral scholar, Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 2013-2016
- American Association for Clinical Chemistry
- American Society for Human Genetics
- Association for Molecular Pathology
- Reviewer, Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, Scientific Reports, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Oncologist, Frontiers in Immunology
- Editorial Board, Journal of Personalized Medicine
- Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)
- SITC Team Science Award, 2020
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Fellowship, 2014-2016
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2013-2014
- Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Predoctoral Fellowship, 2009-2013
- Amgen Interdisciplinary Fellowship, 2008-2009
- Mary Gates Undergraduate Research Scholarship, 2003-2004
Dr. Piening’s research is published in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals. He has partnered with colleagues on various research projects.