Dr. James Woodgett is a world-renowned molecular biologist whose pioneering work in cellular signaling pathways has transformed our understanding of cancer biology and metabolic disorders. He currently serves as President and Scientific Director of the Terry Fox Research Institute while maintaining his position as Senior Scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. After earning his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Dundee in 1984, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Salk Institute before establishing his independent research group at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in London. His subsequent move to the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto in 1992 initiated a highly productive period in Canadian biomedical research, during which he served as Director of Research at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute from 2005 to 2021.
Dr. Woodgett's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of cellular communication mechanisms through his laboratory's isolation and characterization of several critical regulatory genes including Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK3), Protein Kinase B/Akt, and the Stress-Activated Protein Kinases (JNKs). His current research program focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which Wnt and PI3K pathways become dysregulated in multiple cancer types including breast, colon, liver, and brain malignancies. His laboratory maintains a comprehensive investigation into the roles of signaling pathways not only in cancer progression and metastasis but also in type-2 diabetes and stem cell fate determination, utilizing cutting-edge genomic technologies such as RNA-Seq and DNA microarrays. His work on the GSK-3 pathway in cell cycle regulation and the JNK/SAPK pathway in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis represents some of the most innovative approaches to understanding these complex disease mechanisms.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Dr. Woodgett has received significant recognition including Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada and designation as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Scholar, reflecting the international impact of his scientific contributions. His breast cancer research has been consistently supported through multiple Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grants spanning two decades, demonstrating the sustained relevance and importance of his work. Dr. Woodgett's leadership extends to his pivotal role as President of the Terry Fox Research Institute where he shapes the strategic direction of cancer research across Canada. His laboratory continues to pioneer new approaches to understanding the disruption of cellular communication pathways that underlie numerous diseases, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets that could transform clinical management of cancer and related conditions.
