Erwin Van Meir has been associated with Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute and the leadership and development of its scientific activities for more than 15 years. In addition to his role in the Cancer Cell Biology Program, he is also Co-Director of the Emory Brain Tumor Working Group and the Founding Director of the new Emory Graduate Program in Cancer Biology.

Dr Van Meiris helping cancer patients by decoding the molecular puzzle of how tumors develop. Cells form tumors when genes change and oxygen reduces, and Dr. Van Meir is seeking ways to reprogram a cancerous gene or slow down its growth. More specifically, his research focuses on the genetic control of extracellular signaling events in cancer and the development of novel therapeutic agents to target hypoxic tumors. Clinical trials based on these discoveries may produce new cancer medicines. His team’s 150+ scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals represent enormous progress in better understanding cancer and developing new treatments.

Dr. Van Meir’s team focuses on the two most malignant brain tumors: glioblastoma in adults, and medulloblastoma in children. His work also touches upon a malignant eye tumor known as uveal melanoma and a pediatric cancer called Ewing sarcoma. During the last 15 years, he has received continuous support from the National Cancer Institute and is currently also supported by the Alan B. Slifka Foundation for work targeting Ewing’s sarcoma, from CURE Childhood Cancer and the St.Baldrick's Foundation for work on medulloblastoma. The findings of Dr. Van Meir’s research apply to the cure of many solid tumors.