Sir David Philip Lane is a distinguished British scientist renowned for his pivotal contributions to cancer biology and molecular oncology. Knighted for his exceptional services to cancer research, he currently serves as Professor of Tumour Suppressor Biology at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, where he heads a research group focused on cancer mechanisms. Born in Wimbledon, London on July 1, 1952, he completed his undergraduate and doctoral studies at University College London, earning his PhD in Immunology where his advisor Avrion Mitchinson hailed him as the best student he ever had. Following his doctoral work, Lane conducted postdoctoral research first at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London with Lionel Crawford and later at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York with Joseph Sambrook.
Lane's groundbreaking discovery of the p53 protein and its complex with SV40 T antigen revolutionized cancer research, earning p53 the moniker guardian of the genome due to its critical role in preventing tumor formation. His demonstration that cancer-associated mutations in p53 lead to common conformational changes in the protein's DNA binding domain fundamentally advanced understanding of tumor suppressor mechanisms, while his finding that p53 accumulates in the majority of human cancers established it as the most frequently altered gene in oncology with implications for over half of all cancer cases. Lane's research has generated more than 350 highly influential publications that have collectively garnered over 100,000 citations, demonstrating the profound impact of his work on the scientific community. Additionally, his co-authorship of the seminal Antibodies manual with Ed Harlow, which has sold over 40,000 copies, has become the definitive practical guide for immunochemical methods in laboratories worldwide.
Beyond his laboratory achievements, Sir David has provided exceptional scientific leadership through key positions including his tenure as Chief Scientist of Cancer Research UK until 2010, where he championed the successful translation of research into patient benefit and participated in the merger of ICRF and CRC. His vision extended internationally when he served as Chief Scientist of Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research and Executive Director of the Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, helping establish biomedical sciences as a key pillar of Singapore's economy. Currently as Scientific Director of the Ludwig Cancer Research Institute, Lane continues to shape global cancer research strategy while maintaining his active laboratory work at Karolinska Institute. His current focus remains on understanding tumor suppressor mechanisms and translating these discoveries into innovative cancer therapies, embodying his belief that the entire Ludwig community now provides unprecedented opportunities to translate current discoveries into improved patient care.
