Dr. Ronald Mark Evans is a preeminent molecular biologist and pioneering researcher in the field of nuclear receptor signaling. He currently serves as Professor and Head of the Gene Expression Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, holding the prestigious March of Dimes Chair in Molecular and Developmental Biology. A Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator since 1985, Dr. Evans received his Bachelor of Science and PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from UCLA in 1974, followed by postdoctoral training with James E. Darnell at Rockefeller University. He established his independent research career at the Salk Institute in 1978, where he has remained for over four decades, building one of the most influential research programs in molecular biology.
Dr. Evans is renowned for his groundbreaking discovery of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, a class of transcription factors that mediate the effects of hormones and lipophilic molecules on gene expression. His elucidation of the universal mechanism of action for these receptors fundamentally transformed our understanding of how hormones regulate development, metabolism and physiology across animal species. This seminal work has established nuclear receptors as among the most widely investigated pharmaceutical targets worldwide, with applications spanning cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis. Dr. Evans' laboratory has continued to make transformative contributions including the identification of fibroblast growth factor 1 as a critical regulator of insulin activity and the development of novel approaches targeting REV-ERB nuclear receptors to synchronize circadian rhythms and metabolism.
With over 246,000 citations to his name, Dr. Evans' research has catalyzed entire fields of investigation and shaped therapeutic approaches for numerous metabolic and endocrine disorders. His laboratory's recent work on vitamin D derivatives for pancreatic cancer treatment has advanced to clinical trials demonstrating his commitment to translating basic discoveries into clinical applications. As a mentor, Dr. Evans has trained generations of scientists who now lead research programs worldwide extending the impact of his scientific vision across the global research community. Currently focused on the intricate connections between nuclear receptor signaling, metabolism and cancer, Dr. Evans continues to pioneer new frontiers in molecular biology with work that promises to yield innovative treatments for some of humanity's most challenging diseases.
