Dr. Chi Van Dang is a preeminent cancer biologist whose groundbreaking research has transformed our understanding of oncogene function and cancer metabolism. He currently serves as the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Cancer Medicine at Johns Hopkins University with appointments in the Department of Oncology and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After establishing his laboratory at Johns Hopkins in 1987, he held successive leadership positions including Director of the Division of Hematology at Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1993 to 2003 and Director of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2017. His distinguished career has been marked by a consistent commitment to unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development while mentoring the next generation of cancer researchers.
Dr. Dang is internationally renowned for his seminal contributions to elucidating the function of the MYC oncogene in regulating anabolic metabolism necessary for cell growth and proliferation, establishing the first mechanistic link between this critical cancer gene and cellular energy metabolism. His laboratory's foundational work demonstrated how MYC acts as a master switch that turns on metabolic pathways advantageous for cancer cells, providing a framework for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting cancer metabolism. More recently, his research has expanded to investigate how MYC disrupts circadian rhythms in cancer cells, revealing that MYC activation destroys the circadian clock in certain cancers while other cancers require the circadian clock to proliferate. This dual insight into the relationship between cancer metabolism and circadian biology has opened new avenues for therapeutic intervention across multiple cancer types.
Beyond his laboratory discoveries, Dr. Dang has provided exceptional leadership to the cancer research community through his role as Editor-in-Chief of Cancer Research since 2018 and his recent recognition with the 2024 AACR-Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research. His mentorship has fostered the careers of countless early-stage investigators in cancer biology and metabolism, with colleagues noting his ability to balance major leadership roles with his enduring passion for research. Currently serving as Scientific Director and CEO of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, he oversees the organization's global scientific strategy while continuing to investigate metabolic and dietary vulnerabilities of cancer cells. Dr. Dang remains steadfastly committed to translating basic scientific discoveries into clinical applications that will ultimately benefit cancer patients worldwide.
