Professor Steve Jackson to join the Institute

One of the world’s leading experts in DNA repair, Professor Steve Jackson, has accepted an appointment as a Senior Group Leader at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. He will take up his position in September.

Professor Jackson is the University of Cambridge Frederick James Quick Professor of Biology and is currently the Head of Cancer Research UK Laboratories at the Gurdon Institute. His work has dramatically advanced our understanding of how cells detect, signal the presence of, and repair DNA damage. His research aims to characterise DNA damage repair components and pathways and identify ways to apply this knowledge to understand and treat human diseases.

He has founded three biotech companies to translate fundamental biological science into real benefits for patients: KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, Mission Therapeutics, and Adrestia Therapeutics.

Steve and his lab have been at the forefront of research into DNA repair in cancer. His research is behind some of the most important discoveries funded by Cancer Research UK in the last 20 years and beyond.

Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation, Cancer Research UK

His discovery that DNA repair pathways could be targeted in cancer therapy led to the production of the anti-cancer drug Olaparib, the world’s first marketed DNA-repair enzyme inhibitor.

Olaparib is the first cancer drug to target an inherited cancer predisposition and is the first drug to exploit the principle often termed ‘synthetic lethality’, where genetic defects in cancer cells are exploited as their Achilles’ heels by using a drug targeting the product of another gene. Olaparib has been used to treat over 40,000 patients in 73 countries, reducing disease progression and death by up to 66%.

Cancer Research UK’s Executive Director of Research and Innovation, Dr Iain Foulkes, said “I congratulate Professor Steve Jackson on his appointment to the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.

“Steve and his lab have been at the forefront of research into DNA repair in cancer. His research is behind some of the most important discoveries funded by Cancer Research UK in the last 20 years and beyond.

“I look forward to seeing him continue to deliver on his outstanding scientific track record at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.”

Professor Greg Hannon, Director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute said “We are absolutely delighted that Professor Steve Jackson and his vibrant research group will be joining the Institute. Steve is a world leader in his field, and his work has directly impacted thousands of cancer patients.

“Steve will strengthen our commitment to the development of new cancer treatment strategies built on a deep mechanistic understanding of fundamental biological processes and will bring his entrepreneurial spirit, which has helped translate biological discovery into clinical implementation.

I’m also happy that Steve will retain his associations with the University of Cambridge Department of Biochemistry and the Gurdon Institute, where he has spent many extremely productive years.”

Professor Steve Jacksonsaid “I and all other members of my group are absolutely delighted to be joining the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.

We look forward to benefiting from the vibrant research atmosphere there, from forging new interactions and collaborations with Professor Greg Hannon and his stellar colleagues, and from the superb facilities and fantastic staff at the Institute.

The new environment will be highly conducive to my group’s fundamental discovery research and will enhance the prospects for translating our findings towards patient benefits.”