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Titles
Research Scientist
Appointments
Education & Training
- Non Degree Program
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Postdoctoral Associate (2021)
- PhD
- Dartmouth College, Experimental and Molecular Medicine (2016)
- BS
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (2011)
Research
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Overview
Dr. Kevin Johnson is a Research Scientist in Professor Roel Verhaak's laboratory with a strong background in cancer genomics, epigenetics, and glioma evolution. In the Verhaak Lab, he leads computational analyses of multi-modal bulk and single cell longitudinal genomic data to better understand glioma treatment resistance. Dr. Johnson has a proven track record of producing high-quality research including first or co-first author publications in scientific journals such as Nature, Nature Genetics, and Nature Communications. He is also an active research member in (inter)national scientific consortium such as the Glioma Longitudinal AnalySiS (GLASS) consortium that investigates brain tumor molecular evolution and the Participant Engagement and Cancer Genome Sequencing (PE-CGS) consortium that directly engages patients in cancer genomics research.
ORCID
0000-0003-0016-5158
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Kevin Johnson's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Kevin Johnson's research output by year.
Roel Verhaak, PhD
Samir Amin
Elizabeth Claus, PhD, MD
28Publications
2,397Citations
Publications
2026
Community perspectives on the return of research results and ownership of data and specimens for brain tumor genomic research
Kwan B, Barnard J, Ritger C, Staton E, Perkins I, Gonzalez-Fisher R, Lennox L, Gay N, Johnson K, Verhaak R, Claus E, DeCamp M, Salmi L. Community perspectives on the return of research results and ownership of data and specimens for brain tumor genomic research. SSM - Qualitative Research In Health 2026, 9: 100741. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2026.100741.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsLow grade gliomasParticipant recruitmentQualitative directed content analysisParticipant engagement strategiesDirected content analysisResearch participant recruitmentReturn of research resultsCommunity perspectivesEngaging participantsEthical values of autonomyAggregate research resultsGenomic researchClinical applicationApplication of research findingsEthical valuesValues of autonomyCare partnersGrade gliomasBrain tumor communityResearch Advisory CouncilCommunity engagementEngagement strategiesAdvisory CouncilBrain tumors
2025
Single-nucleus transcriptomics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of CDK4/6 and mTOR inhibition in a Phase 0/1 trial of recurrent high-grade glioma
Johnson K, Tien A, Jiang J, McNamara J, Chang Y, Montgomery C, DeSantis A, Elena-Sanchez L, Fujita Y, Kim S, Spitzer A, Gabriel P, Flynn W, Courtois E, Hong A, Harmon J, Umemura Y, Tovmasyan A, Li J, Mehta S, Verhaak R, Sanai N. Single-nucleus transcriptomics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of CDK4/6 and mTOR inhibition in a Phase 0/1 trial of recurrent high-grade glioma. Neuro-Oncology 2025, noaf257. PMID: 41206763, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaf257.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsHigh-grade gliomasRecurrent high-grade gliomaNon-enhancing tumor regionsKi-67-positive cellsPoor drug penetrationPatient-derived cell linesRecurrent HGG patientsTumor regionMalignant cell populationMalignant cell statesNucleus transcriptomicsCDKN2A/B deletionRibociclib treatmentPIK3CA mutationsSingle nucleus RNA sequencingTreat recurrenceCDK4/6 inhibitorsKi-67QD dosingCDK4/6 inhibitionInhibitor ribociclibPTEN lossAdult patientsCell state plasticityDrug penetrationChallenges in the return of molecular tumor profiling results
Lenz H, Craig D, Johnson K, Verhaak R, Bhattacharyya O, Davis B, Wesley C, Byron S, Willman C, Kelley L, Claus E, Trent J, Culver J, Gray S, Church A. Challenges in the return of molecular tumor profiling results. Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2025, djaf251. PMID: 40929086, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djaf251.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsNext-generation sequencingCancer care continuumTransforming cancer careTherapeutic relevanceMultidisciplinary tumor boardCare continuumCancer carePatient engagementTumor profiling resultsEmpower providersNext-generation sequencing resultsClinical trial dataInformed treatment decisionsRelevance of findingsGenomic testingReporting practicesStandardized reporting practicesClinical historyClinical impactTumor boardLiquid biopsyTherapeutic findingsTreatment decisionsClinical utilityPrecision oncologyEngagement Methods in Brain Tumor Genomic Research: Multimethod Comparative Study
DeCamp M, Barnard J, Ritger C, Helmkamp L, Begum A, Garcia-Hernandez S, Fischmann R, Gay N, Gonzalez-Fisher R, Johnson K, Lennox L, Lipof G, Ostmeyer J, Perkins I, Pyle L, Salmi L, Thompson T, Claus E, Verhaak R, Kwan B. Engagement Methods in Brain Tumor Genomic Research: Multimethod Comparative Study. Journal Of Participatory Medicine 2025, 17: e68852. PMID: 40839870, PMCID: PMC12411796, DOI: 10.2196/68852.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsEngagement methodsAdvisory CouncilQualitative content analysisCare partnersOptimal engagementParticipants' experiencesRegistry researchParticipant engagementUnique participantsQualitative findingsTweet chatsResearch Advisory CouncilPositive experiencesContent analysisParticipantsEngagement activitiesDiverse perspectivesGenomic researchDiverse backgroundsEngagementFacebook discussionsSurveyRecommendationsCareRegistryThe multilayered transcriptional architecture of glioblastoma ecosystems
Nomura M, Spitzer A, Johnson K, Garofano L, Nehar-belaid D, Galili Darnell N, Greenwald A, Bussema L, Oh Y, Varn F, D’Angelo F, Gritsch S, Anderson K, Migliozzi S, Gonzalez Castro L, ChowdhFury T, Robine N, Reeves C, Park J, Lipsa A, Hertel F, Golebiewska A, Niclou S, Nusrat L, Kellet S, Das S, Moon H, Paek S, Bielle F, Laurenge A, Di Stefano A, Mathon B, Picca A, Sanson M, Tanaka S, Saito N, Ashley D, Keir S, Ligon K, Huse J, Yung W, Lasorella A, Verhaak R, Iavarone A, Suvà M, Tirosh I. The multilayered transcriptional architecture of glioblastoma ecosystems. Nature Genetics 2025, 57: 1155-1167. PMID: 40346361, PMCID: PMC12081307, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02167-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCell typesSingle-nucleus RNA sequencingDiversity of cellular statesMalignant cell statesGene expression programsTumor DNA sequencingDNA sequencesTranscriptional architectureCellular statesTranscriptional heterogeneityRNA sequencingCell statesCellular heterogeneityExpression programsGenetic aberrationsRecurrent GBM samplesPathway activationLayer of heterogeneityNeuronal-likeNonmalignant cell typesGBM samplesTherapeutic resistanceSequenceEcosystemCell-likeDeciphering the longitudinal trajectories of glioblastoma ecosystems by integrative single-cell genomics
Spitzer A, Johnson K, Nomura M, Garofano L, Nehar-belaid D, Darnell N, Greenwald A, Bussema L, Oh Y, Varn F, D’Angelo F, Gritsch S, Anderson K, Migliozzi S, Gonzalez Castro L, Chowdhury T, Robine N, Reeves C, Park J, Lipsa A, Hertel F, Golebiewska A, Niclou S, Nusrat L, Kellet S, Das S, Moon H, Paek S, Bielle F, Laurenge A, Di Stefano A, Mathon B, Picca A, Sanson M, Tanaka S, Saito N, Ashley D, Keir S, Ligon K, Huse J, Yung W, Lasorella A, Iavarone A, Verhaak R, Tirosh I, Suvà M. Deciphering the longitudinal trajectories of glioblastoma ecosystems by integrative single-cell genomics. Nature Genetics 2025, 57: 1168-1178. PMID: 40346362, PMCID: PMC12081298, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02168-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSingle-cell genomicsSingle-nucleus RNA sequencingMalignant cell statesDNA sequencesNeuronal cell typesTumor microenvironmentRNA sequencingMalignant cell fractionCell statesCell typesCell fractionIsocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype glioblastomaStandard-of-care therapyCo-evolutionMolecular heterogeneityTumor microenvironment modifierEcosystemTumor microenvironment compositionSubsets of patientsSequenceRecurrent glioblastoma
2024
DNAR-16. TARGETING APOBEC CYTIDINE DEAMINASES TO ENHANCE RADIOSENSITIVITY IN GLIOMA
Marin B, Gujar A, Kocakavuk E, Johnson K, Amin S, Verhaak R. DNAR-16. TARGETING APOBEC CYTIDINE DEAMINASES TO ENHANCE RADIOSENSITIVITY IN GLIOMA. Neuro-Oncology 2024, 26: viii120-viii121. PMCID: PMC11553289, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae165.0467.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsApolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-likeRadiation therapyNon-Homologous End JoiningRecurrent gliomaDNA-dependent protein kinaseMutational signaturesRT-induced DNA damageMonitoring response to treatmentRadiosensitivity in vitroEnhanced radiosensitivity in vitroA3GPromote tumor evolutionResponse to treatmentAutophosphorylation of DNA-dependent protein kinaseAPOBEC mutational signaturesAdult brain tumorsPrimary adult brain tumorGlioma Longitudinal Analysis ConsortiumFamily of cytidine deaminasesRadiosensitizing gliomasAPOBEC3G (A3GNon-homologous end-joining pathwayPost-RTGlioma cell linesWhole-genome sequencingMapping extrachromosomal DNA amplifications during cancer progression
Kim H, Kim S, Wade T, Yeo E, Lipsa A, Golebiewska A, Johnson K, An S, Ko J, Nam Y, Lee H, Kang S, Chung H, Niclou S, Moon H, Paek S, Bafna V, Luebeck J, Verhaak R. Mapping extrachromosomal DNA amplifications during cancer progression. Nature Genetics 2024, 56: 2447-2454. PMID: 39402156, PMCID: PMC11549044, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01949-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPretreatment tumorsCancer progressionChemotherapy-pretreated patientsNewly diagnosed tumorsVariant allele fractionUntreated metastasesPrimary cancerUntreated cancerTreatment responseFocal amplificationTumor samplesChromosomal amplificationsDiagnosed cancerTumorExtrachromosomal DNA amplificationsAdvanced cancerCancerEcDNATime pointsMetastasisNewlyDNA amplificationProgressionExtrachromosomal DNAPatients
2023
The epigenetic evolution of glioma is determined by the IDH1 mutation status and treatment regimen
Malta T, Sabedot T, Morosini N, Datta I, Garofano L, Vallentgoed W, Varn F, Aldape K, D'Angelo F, Bakas S, Barnholtz-Sloan J, Gan H, Hasanain M, Hau A, Johnson K, Cazacu S, deCarvalho A, Khasraw M, Kocakavuk E, Kouwenhoven M, Migliozzi S, Niclou S, Niers J, Ormond D, Paek S, Reifenberger G, Smitt P, Smits M, Stead L, van den Bent M, Van Meir E, Walenkamp A, Weiss T, Weller M, Westerman B, Ylstra B, Wesseling P, Lasorella A, French P, Poisson L, Woehrer A, Lowman A, deCarvalho A, Castro A, Transou A, Brodbelt A, Hau A, Lasorella A, Golebiewska A, Walenkamp A, Molinaro A, Iavarone A, Ismail A, Westerman B, Ylstra B, Bock C, Ormond D, Brat D, Kocakavuk E, Van Meir E, Barthel F, Varn F, D'Angelo F, Finocchiaro G, Rao G, Zadeh G, Reifenberger G, ngNg H, Kim H, Noushmehr H, Miletic H, Gan H, Datta I, Rock J, Snyder J, Huse J, Connelly J, Barnholtz-Sloan J, Niers J, deGroot J, Akdemir K, Kannan K, Ligon K, Aldape K, Bulsara K, Johnson K, Alfaro K, Poisson L, Garofano L, Stead L, Nasrallah M, Smits M, van den Bent M, Kouwenhoven M, Weller M, Hasanain M, Khasraw M, Gould P, Smitt P, LaViolette P, Tatman P, Wesseling P, French P, Beroukhim R, Verhaak R, Migliozzi S, Niclou S, Bakas S, Kalkanis S, Paek S, Short S, Ghazaleh T, Malta T, Sabedot T, Weiss T, Walbert T, Baid U, Vallentgoed W, Yung W, Verhaak R, Iavarone A, Noushmehr H. The epigenetic evolution of glioma is determined by the IDH1 mutation status and treatment regimen. Cancer Research 2023, 84: 741-756. PMID: 38117484, PMCID: PMC10911804, DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-2093.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsIDHmut gliomasIDHmut tumorsIDHwt gliomasResponse to therapeutic pressureGenes associated with tumor progressionT cell infiltrationLevels of global methylationIDH1 mutation statusAssociated with survivalDNA methylationLoss of DNA methylationGenome-wide DNA methylationRecurrent tumorsIncreased neoangiogenesisMutation statusIDH-wildtypeTherapy resistanceHistological progressionTherapeutic pressureLevel of genome-wide DNA methylationTumor microenvironmentT cellsTreatment regimenTumor adaptationIDH-mutantJS04.5.A HEMIZYGOUSCDKN2A DELETION CONFERS WORSE SURVIVAL OUTCOMES IN IDH-MUTANT GLIOMAS
Kocakavuk E, Johnson K, Sabedot T, Reinhardt H, Noushmehr H, Verhaak R. JS04.5.A HEMIZYGOUSCDKN2A DELETION CONFERS WORSE SURVIVAL OUTCOMES IN IDH-MUTANT GLIOMAS. Neuro-Oncology 2023, 25: ii8-ii8. PMCID: PMC10489854, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad137.021.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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