Anand Patel, MD, PhD

Dr. Anand Patel is a pediatric oncologist and physician-scientist who trained at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where he now leads an independent research program as an Assistant Member. His clinical and scientific background in pediatric solid tumors, combined with expertise in computational biology and experimental modeling, uniquely positions him to investigate the molecular drivers of cancer heterogeneity.  Dr. Patel’s lab focuses on dissecting the dynamic regulation of cell states in rhabdomyosarcoma and other childhood sarcomas, with the overarching goal of understanding how intratumoral heterogeneity contributes to treatment failure and disease recurrence. His team integrates single-cell transcriptomics, CRISPR-based perturbation screens, and experimental models of sarcoma to map tumor ecosystems and functionally test the regulators that sustain plasticity and adaptation. Dr. Patel’s lab has made impactful discoveries, including the identification of rare, stem-like cells in rhabdomyosarcoma that shape tumor behavior and therapeutic response.  Through this work, Dr. Patel aims to move beyond static models of tumor classification toward a dynamic, state-based understanding of pediatric cancers. His long-term objective is to translate these mechanistic insights into new therapeutic strategies that target the specific vulnerabilities of heterogeneous tumors, ultimately improving outcomes for children with hard-to-treat cancers.