Dr. Robert Weinberg is a world-renowned molecular biologist whose pioneering work has fundamentally transformed our understanding of cancer genetics. He currently serves as the Daniel K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and directs MIT's Ludwig Center for Cancer Research. Born in Pittsburgh in 1942 to refugees from Nazi Germany, Weinberg earned both his Bachelor of Science and Doctorate in Biology from MIT, completing his PhD in 1969. After conducting postdoctoral research at the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, he returned to MIT in 1972, where he became a founding member of the prestigious Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in 1982.
Dr. Weinberg's laboratory made history in 1979 by providing the first demonstration that the genomes of cancer cells carry a mutant oncogene, which they subsequently identified as a ras oncogene resulting from a single base change in normal cellular DNA. His team achieved another landmark breakthrough in 1986 by isolating the first known tumor suppressor gene, the retinoblastoma gene Rb, fundamentally changing how scientists understand cancer development. In 1999, his laboratory created the first genetically defined human tumor cells using the recently cloned human telomerase enzyme, and in 2004, they demonstrated how the Twist gene enables cancer cells to acquire invasive and metastatic properties. These discoveries collectively established the genetic framework for modern cancer research and directly inspired the influential Hallmarks of Cancer framework that he co-authored with Dr. Douglas Hanahan.
Beyond his groundbreaking research, Dr. Weinberg has profoundly influenced the field through his authorship of the definitive textbook The Biology of Cancer, which has educated generations of cancer researchers worldwide. He co-founded Verastem, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing cancer treatments targeting cancer stem cells, demonstrating his commitment to translating basic science into clinical applications. Recognized with the National Medal of Science in 1997 and election to the National Academy of Sciences and Institute of Medicine, his contributions have been widely celebrated across the scientific community. Currently, Dr. Weinberg continues to lead innovative research on the mechanisms of cancer metastasis, exploring how tumor cells develop the highly malignant traits necessary for invasion and spread throughout the body.
