Welcome to the DeCaprio Lab of Viral Oncology
The DeCaprio Lab studies the family of viruses called polyomavirus that can transform normal cells into cancer cells. We focus on the discovery of fundamental biological processes that can be perturbed in cancer. Our approach has been to identify cellular proteins that bind to viral proteins and to gain insight into how these interactions contribute to cancer. As part of this effort, the DeCaprio laboratory discovered the mammalian DREAM (DP, RB-related, E2F, and MuvB) complex and determined that DREAM serves as a master coordinator of cell cycle-dependent gene expression.
The DeCaprio lab studies the contribution of Merkel cell polyomavirus Large and Small T Antigens to Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a highly aggressive skin cancer. We discovered that Small T antigen recruits L-MYC (MYCL) to the p400 (EP400) complex to form the SLaP (ST, L-MYC, and p400) complex in MCC. The SLaP complex creates strong dependencies on specific genes that can be drugged.
Recent News and Highlights
We are looking for strong postdoctoral fellows to join our group!
If you are interested in a post-doc position in the DeCaprio lab, please send an email to James_DeCaprio at dfci.harvard.edu with a cover letter describing your past research, your future goals, and why you would like to join the DeCaprio Lab. Please include your CV and contact information for 3 references who can speak on your scientific achievements. Strong training in the following areas are a plus: cancer biology, virology, molecular biology. We are looking for postdocs who have published in high quality international journals, and are motivated to acquire fellowships to support your work at Harvard & DFCI.
1.28.26 Dr. Chiara Mazzotta receives a prestigious Mentored Research Award from the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation to Accelerate Neuroendocrine Cancer Treatments and Cures. Congrats, Chiara!
1.25.26 Mandlin Almousa receives 2 awards: The Lester Burket Memorial Award from the American Academy of Oral Medicine. Mandlin is the recipient of this year’s Lester Burket Memorial Award to be presented at the 2026 AAOM annual meeting “Immune Intelligence in Oral Medicine: Bridging Oncology, Autoimmunity, and Pain”. She also receives the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center Research Award. Congrats, Mandlin!
7.01.25 Dr. Chiara Mazziotta starts as a new Research Fellow in the DeCaprio Lab. Welcome Chiara!
6.09.25 The DeCaprio Lab welcomes Evan Zhang as a student summer intern. Welcome, Evan!
6.05.25 The DeCaprio Lab welcomes Anisa Cole as a student summer intern. Welcome, Anisa!
6.02.25 Dr. Jiawen Yang starts as a new Research Fellow in the DeCaprio Lab. Welcome Jiawen!
1.27.25 Yajie Yang, a graduate student from the Karolinska Institute joins the DeCaprio lab as a lab visiting intern. Welcome Yajie!
1.06.25 Dr. Li Fan starts as a new Research Fellow in the DeCaprio Lab. Welcome Li!
7.01.24 Welcome to Emily Pan, a Northeastern coop student researcher supported by the Northeastern University and HCC CaNCURE Program!
6.12.24 Congratulations to Dr. Furkan Bahar for starting his clinical residency in Internal Medicine at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge!
5.07.24 Julia Schnabel is awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein F31 Fellowship. Congrats, Julia!
