Zachary S. Buchwald, MD, PhD, has been named assistant director for basic research and shared resources at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.
Physician-scientist and radiation oncologist Zachary S. Buchwald, MD, PhD, has been named assistant director for basic research and shared resources at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Buchwald succeeds Renee Read, PhD, who served in the role from 2022 until her 2025 appointment as co-leader of Winship’s Cell and Molecular Biology Research Program.
In his new role, Buchwald will work alongside Gregory B. Lesinski, PhD, MPH, associate director for basic research and shared resources, to support the continued success of Winship’s laboratory-based cancer researchers. His responsibilities include providing oversight of Winship’s basic research operations, infrastructure and strategic growth consistent with Winship’s mission and the expectations for National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Dr. Buchwald to build on the strengths of our basic research environment and ensure that our scientists have the support they need to excel,” says Lesinski. “He is an accomplished and collaborative physician-scientist who brings valuable insight into our approaches for optimizing infrastructure and coordination needed for successful basic and translational research.”
Basic researchers at Winship have access to state-of-the-art facilities and an array of centralized shared resources with advanced technology and dedicated staff members. The shared resources support investigators with the design, implementation, analysis, interpretation and reporting of research—helping position today’s discoveries to become tomorrow’s cancer advances.
“Thanks to the work taking place in our basic research labs, Winship is able to bring innovative therapies, new treatment approaches and hope to our patients,” says Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, FACP, FASCO, executive director of Winship. “I am excited to welcome Dr. Buchwald to the Winship leadership team and am confident that he will help propel Winship’s basic research to even greater heights.”
Buchwald is an associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine and cares for patients with melanoma and other skin cancers. He is also a faculty member with the Cancer Biology Graduate Program at Emory’s Laney Graduate School. His R01-funded lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms of radiation and DNA damage associated anti-tumor immune responses and defining the impact of the circadian rhythm on immune checkpoint blockade therapy in melanoma. Before joining the Emory faculty in 2020, he completed his residency at Emory where he served as chief resident and earned the prestigious Holman Research Pathway fellowship.
“It’s truly a privilege to work alongside Dr. Lesinski and the rest of the Winship leadership to continue to build upon and advance our exceptional basic sciences and shared resources,” says Buchwald. “I appreciate the opportunity to help in this endeavor.”
Buchwald is a member of the NCI Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network Skin Committee and the ECOG-ACRIN Radiation Committee. At Emory, he serves on key committees including the MD/PhD Admissions Committee and the Winship Neuro-Oncology and Melanoma working groups.