Tyler Jacks
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Primary Section: 41, Medical Genetics, Hematology, and Oncology Membership Type:
Member
(elected 2009)
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Research Interests
My research is focused on the genetic events that drive tumor development. Using a combination of cell-based and whole animal studies, my group has investigated the functions of a number of genes that are frequently altered in the development of human cancers. The p53 tumor suppressor gene and the K-ras oncogene, which are mutated in approximately 50% and 30% of all human tumors, are the two genes that we have studied most extensively. A central theme of our research has been to study the effects of mutations in cancer-associated genes in context by creating genetically-engineered mouse strains in which we have altered the mouse homolog of the gene in the germline. Using a combination of constitutive and conditional mutations and by creating a large series of compound mutant strains, we have succeeded in developing accurate models of cancers of the lung, ovary, pancreas and other sites. These models are useful for studying aspects of disease biology as well as for testing new methods of therapy, early detection and prevention of cancer.
