Professor Kari Hemminki stands as a world-renowned authority in cancer epidemiology and genetic risk factors, currently serving as the ERA Chair holder and leader of the Laboratory of Translational Genomics of Cancer at the Biomedical Centre of Charles University's Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen. After completing his postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, he established a distinguished academic career spanning decades across prestigious institutions including Karolinska Institutet in Sweden where he served as professor for fifteen years and Deutsche Krebsforschungszentrum and Universität Heidelberg in Germany where he continued his impactful work for another fifteen years. In 2019, seeking to continue his scientific contributions after retirement from his Heidelberg institute, Professor Hemminki embarked on a new chapter by founding his research laboratory at Charles University in Pilsen. His decision to join the Czech academic community represented a strategic alignment of his research interests with emerging opportunities in translational cancer genomics. The university environment provided the ideal platform for his next phase of scientific exploration, combining his extensive international experience with new collaborative possibilities in Central Europe.
Professor Hemminki's pioneering research integrates molecular genetics with epidemiological approaches to unravel the complex interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors in cancer development, with particular focus on colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Under his leadership, the Translational Cancer Genomics Laboratory has secured significant grant funding and produced over one hundred impactful publications in less than five years, with forty appearing in first-quartile journals, demonstrating exceptional scientific productivity and influence. His conceptual breakthrough in establishing Molecular Genetic Epidemiology as a distinct research discipline has provided a robust framework for understanding how DNA mutations caused by chemical carcinogens contribute to cancer pathogenesis. Professor Hemminki's versatile scientific profile enables him to bridge traditionally separate fields, creating innovative methodologies that have advanced our understanding of genetic risk factors across diverse populations. His work has established critical connections between molecular mechanisms and population-level cancer patterns, offering new insights for prevention and early detection strategies.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Professor Hemminki has cultivated an extensive international collaborative network, with publications featuring hundreds of co-authors from numerous countries and academic levels, reflecting his commitment to fostering global scientific cooperation and mentorship. His dedication to nurturing the next generation of researchers is evident in his proud acknowledgment of having helped numerous students and scientists advance in their careers throughout his decades-long academic journey. The recent conferral of an honorary doctorate by Charles University on March 4, 2025, represents a fitting recognition of his extraordinary contributions to cancer research and his successful integration into the Czech academic landscape. Looking forward, Professor Hemminki continues to leverage his unique position at the intersection of multiple disciplines to drive forward the field of translational cancer genomics, with his laboratory serving as a hub for innovative research that promises to yield important insights for cancer prevention and personalized treatment approaches. His ongoing work exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to address some of the most challenging questions in modern oncology.
