Our Team

Dr. Barrett’s longstanding research interests focus on the discovery of the critical genetic and epigenetic changes in the cancer cell, in particular the discovery of genes involved in breast cancer (BRCA1) and in the processes of cellular senescence and cancer metastasis. He has made significant contributions to the identification of molecular defects in cancers and the role of the biosystem in the carcinogenesis process.

Dr. Barrett was vice-president of translational science in the Oncology Innovative Medicines Division at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, where his responsibility was to develop and execute biomarker strategy and translational sciences efforts. From 2005-2011, he was global head of oncology biomarkers and imaging at Novartis Oncology Translational Medicine. Prior to joining Novartis, Dr. Barrett was founding director of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Center for Cancer Research (CCR), which is the NCI intramural center for translation medicine and novel technologies. Prior to joining NCI, Dr. Barrett was the scientific director at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences where his efforts focused on integrating new approaches to toxicology by utilization of molecular approaches of toxicogenomics, molecular toxicology and the Environmental Genome Project.

Trained as a chemist at the College of William and Mary, Dr. Barrett received his Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry from Johns Hopkins University. He has published over 600 research articles and reviews in leading scientific journals and books. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars, an elected member of the Ramazini Foundation, an honorary member of the Japanese Cancer Association and a recipient of multiple National Institutes of Health awards and keynote lectures.