Darrell Borger Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, Ma, Us

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Founded and directed Takeda's Experimental & Molecular Pathology Unit, integrating translational expertise, on-site laboratory capabilities, advanced tissue-based technologies, and informatics to uncover breakthrough drug targets, complex mechanisms of action, and predictive biomarkers of therapeutic response. Notable achievements include pioneering spatial multi-omics technologies, implementing custom multiplex protein/RNA panels, developing AI-based image informatics platforms at an enterprise level, and creating a comprehensive translational tumor biobank with patient tumor specimens and paired metadata. Close collaborations with Research & Development and Clinical Pathology teams are facilitating development of innovative approaches that have significantly advanced oncology drug discovery across multiple therapeutic strategies, while ensuring a seamless transition into early-phase clinical trials.

Cambridge, United States

Recruited key academic and biotechnology subject matter experts, developed a highly integrated investigative immunohistology team, improved image informatics capabilities, and overhauled preclinical laboratory practices to enhance workflow efficiency and maximize data quality. By integrating translational scientists directly into oncology drug discovery teams, we have advanced drug discovery and expanded translational capabilities across our preclinical programs using multi-target tissue-based assays. Further validation of our custom research-use-only assays into laboratory-developed tests has bridged the gap between oncology drug discovery and clinical trial development, enhancing our ability to translate research findings directly into clinical applications.

Greater Boston Area

Created and managed a preclinical lab group within the Biomarker Unit to advance precision medicine in immunotherapy. Pioneered multiplexed expression profiling and multispectral imaging to uncover immune escape mechanisms in various solid tumors. Secured a research partnership with Tesaro to identify immune checkpoint signatures in endometrial and cervical cancers, shaping future clinical trial strategies.

Transformed a unit to implement a precision medicine approach, stratifying patients for early-phase clinical trials of small molecule inhibitors based on tumor fingerprints. Managed a central testing laboratory for six oncology trials with leading pharmaceutical companies, developing and validating genotyping assays for patient eligibility determination, including ALK/ROS1 translocations, MET gene amplification, and KIT mutations. Developed clinical exploratory assays to identify drug action and therapeutic response correlates across five early-phase trials for Constellation Pharmaceuticals and EMD Serono in various malignancies. Contributed to radiation oncology research by identifying DNA damage repair mechanisms that affect radiation therapy responses and informed co-therapy approaches. Promoted global personalized medicine by advising the Turkish Health Minister on establishing a national tumor genotyping program.

Served as an integral member of a small pathology team that developed a new generation of multiplexed clinical genotyping platforms to identify oncogenic gene mutations that could rationally inform small molecule therapy choice for patients. Developed a clinical testing lab under CLIA & New York State certification that provided one of the first examples of a hospital-implemented precision medicine approach that continues to help our clinicians direct therapy to the individual cancer patient based on an underlying tumor signature. Underwent FDA audit for approval of a CDx co-developed by the lab for directing labeled use of crizotinib.

Greater Boston Area

Identified novel molecular signatures in various rare malignancies, leading to the development of new phase I and II clinical trials in collaboration with MGH oncologists and leading pharmaceutical companies.• Co-identified an EGFR gene amplification signature in vulvar cancer (PMID: 18768215), prompting an MGH-sponsored phase II clinical trial of erlotinib treatment in this historically underserved patient population (PMID: 22750258).• First to report mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1 and IDH2 in cholangiocarcinoma (PMID: 22180306), leading to an MGH clinical trial evaluating ivosidenib (PMID: 32416072) and subsequent FDA orphan drug designation for the treatment of this rare malignancy.

Discovered specific cancer survival mechanisms under low oxygen conditions and the co-opting of coactivators by a viral oncoprotein, supported through NIH funding.