Laurel Berry, MD

2026 Early Career Investigator Grant

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Project Summary
Our research aims to improve survival rates for high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) patients by identifying those most likely to derive clinical benefit from immunotherapy. We previously identified a group of genes, “STRATsig,” which classifies HGSC tumors based on their immunogenicity. By using patient-derived tumor organoids PTOs, our approach is unique in its ability to test new treatments directly on tumor cells. Using STRATsig group defined PTOs, we hope to identify not only a group of HGSC tumors that may respond to immunotherapies, but also to discover novel ways to overcome immunotherapy resistance.

Bio
Dr. Laurel Katherine Berry is an Assistant Professor in the Section on Gynecologic Oncology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. After earning a B.S. in Biology from Sweet Briar College and an M.D. from Florida State University College of Medicine, Dr. Berry completed residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at MAHEC in Asheville, NC, followed by a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Wake Forest. Board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Dr. Berry has held academic appointments at MAHEC and the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Berry is actively involved in clinical trials, quality improvement initiatives, and professional societies such as ACOG, SGO, and MAGOS, currently serving as the SGO Early Career Board Member and MAGOS Program Director for their annual meeting. Dr. Berry is dedicated to advancing gynecologic oncology through research, education, and clinical innovation.

As a practicing gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Berry has witnessed the devastating impact of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) and the limitations of current therapies, fueling a sustained commitment to translational research. A pivotal clinical experience at the Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston, SC—where a patient with platinum-refractory HGSC responded unexpectedly to an immune checkpoint inhibitor—shaped Dr. Berry’s research trajectory, emphasizing the urgent need for predictive biomarkers in immunotherapy. Collaborating with Dr. Lance Miller during fellowship at Wake Forest, Dr. Berry helped develop and validate STRATsig, a novel gene expression signature that stratifies HGSC tumors by immunogenic potential. Continuing this work, Dr. Berry and colleagues have advanced a NanoString-based classifier for clinical application and expanded validation efforts. The current research leverages immune-enhanced, patient-derived tumor organoid models to further validate STRATsig as a predictive biomarker, aiming to bridge translational discovery and clinical application. Dr. Berry’s long-term goal is to enable personalized immunotherapeutic selection in ovarian cancer, improving outcomes for women facing this challenging disease.