Dr. Lawrence Marnett is a distinguished biochemist and internationally recognized authority in chemical biology and cancer research. He currently serves as University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Mary Geddes Stahlman Professor of Cancer Research, and Professor of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. After earning his PhD in Chemistry from Duke University in 1973, he completed postdoctoral training at the Karolinska Institute and Wayne State University before establishing his independent career at Wayne State University. In 1989, he joined Vanderbilt University where he has held numerous leadership positions including Director of the A.B. Hancock, Jr. Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research, Director of the Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, and Dean of Basic Sciences until becoming Dean Emeritus.
Dr. Marnett's pioneering research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of cyclooxygenase-2 in cancer and inflammation, revealing critical mechanisms by which lipid oxidation products cause DNA damage and mutation. His seminal work on the structure and function of COX-2 has led to the development of novel selective inhibitors with potential applications as anti-inflammatory and cancer preventive agents, as well as imaging tools for early cancer detection. With over 450 research publications and 14 patents to his name, his discoveries have significantly advanced the field of chemical biology and provided crucial insights into the molecular basis of cancer development. The impact of his work extends beyond academia, with several of his approaches influencing drug development strategies for targeting inflammatory pathways in malignancy.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Marnett has been instrumental in building Vanderbilt's chemical biology research infrastructure through his leadership of the Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology and the A.B. Hancock, Jr. Memorial Laboratory. He has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have established successful careers in academia and industry, shaping the next generation of chemical biologists. As founding editor-in-chief of the American Chemical Society journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, he has significantly influenced the direction of research in chemical toxicology and molecular mechanisms of disease. His current work continues to explore the complex interplay between lipid metabolism, DNA damage, and cancer development, with promising avenues for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress pathways in malignancy.
