Dr Manel Esteller stands as a preeminent leader in cancer epigenetics, currently serving as Director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute and Chairman of Genetics in the School of Medicine at the University of Barcelona. An ICREA Research Professor with deep roots in Catalan science, he received his medical degree from the University of Barcelona in 1992 and completed his PhD in molecular genetics at the same institution in 1996, specializing in endometrial carcinoma. His formative research included an appointment at the University of St Andrews studying inherited breast cancer genetics, followed by a pivotal postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University from 1997 to 2001. Dr Esteller established his independent research career in 2001 when he became Leader of the Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, a position he held until 2008 before assuming leadership at the Josep Carreras Institute.
Dr Esteller's research has fundamentally transformed cancer biology through his seminal discovery establishing promoter hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes as a universal hallmark across all human malignancies. His groundbreaking work at Johns Hopkins provided definitive evidence that epigenetic silencing mechanisms play as critical a role in tumorigenesis as genetic mutations, revolutionizing the understanding of cancer pathogenesis. This paradigm-shifting contribution has generated extensive citations and formed the foundation for epigenetic biomarkers now implemented in cancer diagnostics worldwide. His laboratory's comprehensive mapping of DNA methylation patterns, histone modifications, and chromatin alterations in cancer has revealed novel therapeutic targets and mechanisms of drug resistance, significantly advancing precision oncology. Dr Esteller's extensive publication record in leading scientific journals consistently drives innovation in the field of cancer epigenetics.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr Esteller has profoundly shaped the global epigenetics community through leadership in international research consortia and mentorship of numerous scientists who now lead independent laboratories worldwide. His laboratory at the Josep Carreras Institute remains at the forefront of translating epigenetic discoveries into clinical applications for hematological malignancies and other cancers. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards including the Falcó Carlemany Award and Innovation in Healthcare Oncology Award, affirming both scientific excellence and translational impact. Currently, his research focuses on developing epigenetic-based diagnostics and targeted therapies while elucidating the complex interplay between genetic and epigenetic alterations in cancer progression. Dr Esteller's ongoing work continues to define the trajectory of precision oncology and establish new frontiers in cancer epigenetics research.
