Dr. Johannes Carolus Clevers is a world-renowned molecular biologist and pioneering stem cell researcher whose transformative work has reshaped regenerative medicine. He currently serves as Head of Pharma Research and Early Development at Roche, having joined the Swiss healthcare company in 2022 after a distinguished academic career spanning over three decades. Born in Eindhoven, Netherlands in 1957, Clevers pursued dual training in medicine and biology at Utrecht University, earning his MD in 1984 and PhD in Immunology in 1985. Following postdoctoral research at Harvard University's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 1986 to 1989, he established his laboratory at Utrecht University where he was Professor of Molecular Genetics at University Medical Center Utrecht from 2002 to 2020, was appointed Professor of Molecular Genetics at Utrecht University in 2020, and served as Director of the Hubrecht Institute for Stem Cell Research from 2002 to 2012.
Clevers pioneered the field of intestinal stem cell biology by becoming the first researcher to identify and isolate adult stem cells in the mammalian intestine, a breakthrough that revolutionized our understanding of tissue regeneration. His laboratory discovered Lgr5 as a specific marker for intestinal stem cells, enabling the development of intestinoids or organoid cultures that accurately mimic human intestinal tissue for drug testing and personalized medicine applications. Published in 2009, his work on generating mini-guts from human stem cells has been cited thousands of times and has transformed approaches to studying gastrointestinal diseases and developing targeted therapies. With over 540 publications to his name, Clevers has established an unparalleled research program that bridges fundamental stem cell biology with clinical applications across multiple organ systems. His methodological innovations have enabled patient-specific organoid models that are now used globally for disease modeling, drug screening, and personalized treatment approaches.
As a leading authority in regenerative medicine, Clevers has profoundly influenced global research directions through his leadership positions including President of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and Director of Research and Chief Scientific Officer at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology from 2015 to 2022. His work has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the Spinoza Prize, and the Heineken Prize for Medicine, cementing his reputation as one of the most impactful biomedical researchers of his generation. Currently advancing precision medicine applications at Roche, Clevers oversees initiatives using patient-derived organoids to develop personalized treatments for conditions including cystic fibrosis and colorectal cancer. His visionary approach continues to catalyze new research avenues across the scientific community, with organoid technology now established as a standard methodology in laboratories worldwide for studying human development and disease. Clevers remains dedicated to translating fundamental discoveries into clinical applications that improve patient outcomes through more effective, personalized therapeutic strategies.
