Welcome to the Winn Research Lab
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for approximately 90% of all diagnosed cases. Despite advancements in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer patients remains below 27%. Smoking continues to be a major contributor to lung cancer, with over half of those diagnosed being former smokers. Even with the implementation of smoking cessation programs, the lifetime risk of developing lung cancer among former smokers remains significantly elevated. This highlights the urgent need for more effective and innovative molecular therapies targeting this high-risk population.
The Winn Lab focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways by which oncogenes and tumor suppressors drive the initiation and progression of lung cancer, utilizing both human and animal models. Through advanced, cutting-edge technologies, the lab conducts translational research to discover novel biomarkers that can inform the development of innovative therapeutic approaches.
In addition to its focus on fundamental cancer biology, the Winn Lab is also committed to investigating lung cancer health disparities. This includes exploring genetic, proteomic, and metabolomic variations across different populations to better understand differences in survival outcomes.
Supported by funding from the NIH and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Winn Lab maintains a robust network of national and international collaborations to further its mission of advancing lung cancer research and treatment.
Research
Learn more about our cutting edge research
Our Team
Meet our research group

Chu-Fang (Herman) Chou, PhD
Senior Research Scientist

Chu-Fang (Herman) Chou, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Massey Cancer Center
Email: chufang.chou@vcuhealth.org

Stephanie McHale
Lab Specialist (In-vivo models)


Parash Parajuli, PhD
Associate Professor


Gregory Riddick, PhD
Senior Computational Biologist


Michelle Van Scoyk
Lab Manager/Senior Lab Technician

Michelle Van Scoyk
Lab Manager/Senior Lab Technician
Massey Cancer Center

Pei-Ying (Maggie) Wu
Senior Lab Technician


Bin Zhu, PhD
Research Computational Biologist

Publications
Learn more about our work
Dr. Winn’s complete bibliography at MyNCBI:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/robert.winn.1/bibliography/public/
Contacts
Winn Research Lab
Michelle Van Scoyk
Lab Manager/Senior Research Scientist
Massey Cancer Center
Phone: (804) 827-1158
Email: michelle.vanscoyk@vcuhealth.org