Sir Steve Jackson FRS FMedSci is a preeminent molecular biologist and global authority in DNA damage response and genome integrity research. He currently serves as the University of Cambridge Frederick James Quick and Cancer Research UK Professor of Biology while holding dual leadership positions as Senior Group Leader at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and Associate Group Leader at the Gurdon Institute. Jackson earned his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Leeds in 1983 followed by doctoral research on yeast RNA splicing at Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh. After completing postdoctoral studies on transcription regulation at the University of California Berkeley he returned to the United Kingdom in 1991 to establish his independent research program at the Wellcome CRC Institute now known as the Gurdon Institute. His distinguished career trajectory saw him appointed as Senior Group Leader and Fellow of St. John's College at Cambridge University in 1995 and progression to professorial positions first in the Department of Zoology from 1995 to 2009 and subsequently in the Department of Biochemistry.
Professor Jackson's pioneering research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of cellular mechanisms for detecting and repairing DNA double strand breaks which are critical for preventing cancer development and maintaining genomic stability. His laboratory made seminal contributions to elucidating the DNA damage response pathway including the influential 2007 Science publication detailing how the RNF8 ubiquitin ligase orchestrates the cellular response to DNA damage a discovery that has been extensively cited and built upon by researchers worldwide. Jackson's innovative experimental approaches have enabled the identification of key signaling proteins and repair mechanisms that revealed vulnerabilities in cancer cells with defective DNA repair pathways leading to novel therapeutic strategies. His work has directly contributed to the development of precision medicine approaches in oncology particularly through research on targeting DNA repair deficiencies in cancer treatment. The translational impact of his discoveries is evident in ongoing clinical applications that leverage DNA repair mechanisms for improved cancer therapies.
Beyond his laboratory achievements Jackson has profoundly shaped the scientific community through strategic leadership mentorship and institution building as Head of the Cancer Research UK Laboratories and the Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute. He has cultivated a collaborative research environment that has trained numerous scientists many of whom now lead independent research groups in academia and industry worldwide. Jackson's influence extends to his advisory roles with major funding bodies where his expertise guides strategic investments in DNA repair research and cancer therapeutics development. His laboratory continues to drive innovation with current research exploring new dimensions of DNA damage signaling and repair mechanisms that promise further breakthroughs in understanding cancer biology. As a knighted scientist holding prestigious fellowships in both the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences Jackson remains at the forefront of molecular biology translating fundamental discoveries into clinical applications that will continue to advance cancer treatment and genome maintenance research for years to come.
