Employee spotlight
For Samarth Mathur, Ph.D., science is storytelling—told through the language of evolution, genomics, and computational biology. As an analyst in the Bioinformatics and Computational Science Directorate in support of National Cancer Institute studies he brings a systems-level lens to cancer research, combining multi-omic data analysis with a deep curiosity to reveal hidden truths from within the data.
Mathur and his team use liquid biopsies to uncover tumor resistance mechanisms, highlighting the power and promise of precision monitoring. Honored with a 2024 NCI Director’s Award as part of the NCI Liquid Biopsy Team, Mathur shares why curiosity, creativity, and collaboration drive his work every day.
What is a liquid biopsy, and why is it such a promising tool in cancer research?
A liquid biopsy is a blood test that lets us study the genetic makeup of a tumor without needing surgery. We analyze fragments of tumor DNA circulating in the bloodstream, often collected during a routine blood draw. It’s quick, repeatable, and easier on the patient.
What makes it powerful is that we can use the tumor DNA to track how a tumor changes over time. We look for mutations that help tumors evade the immune system—mutations first identified in solid tumors but now detectable in blood. That’s a big step forward.
You’re known for your multi-omic data analysis skills. What does that mean?
Multi-omics means analyzing multiple layers of biological data: genomics (DNA), transcriptomics (RNA), proteomics (proteins), and epigenomics (chemical changes affecting gene expression). Each layer tells part of the story but combining them gives a full Technicolor image of what’s happening inside a cell.
You’ve explored everything from population genomics to cancer biology during your career. How did those experiences shape your path to FNL?
My formal education focused on wildlife genomics including how genetic factors impact evolution and can inform conservation strategies for species survival.
I’m fascinated by how populations evolve, whether that’s animals in the wild or tumor cells in the human body. That evolutionary lens, combined with my experience in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics, translates directly to cancer research.
What drew you to this role and what makes the work so meaningful to you?
Coming from academia, I spent years studying biology at a fundamental level and exploring emerging technologies. That’s what drew me to FNL: The chance to work at the cutting edge of science and technology, where foundational biology meets real-world impact.
How does your work support FNL’s mission and push cancer research forward?
We’re generating knowledge that has real-world impact, and I get to see that impact firsthand. Being part of the innovation pipeline is incredibly motivating.
What excites you most about your work?
Seeing results that influence patient care is deeply rewarding, but it’s not instant. What’s more immediate is working with principal investigators and witnessing their reactions when we discuss results.
Bioinformatics sounds super technical. Is there a creative side to it?
Absolutely. On the surface, it looks like code and statistics, but underneath, it’s all about storytelling. We’re piecing together fragments of biological data to build a narrative about what’s happening in a tumor or a population of cells.
