Dr. Tomas Ganz is a distinguished physician-scientist and world-renowned expert in the fields of immunology and iron metabolism. He currently serves as a Distinguished Research Professor of Medicine and Pathology Emeritus on recall for research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he has maintained a prolific academic career spanning over four decades. Dr. Ganz earned his Bachelor of Science in Physics and his medical degree at UCLA, followed by a PhD in Applied Physics from the California Institute of Technology, establishing a unique interdisciplinary foundation for his pioneering research. After completing his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine at UCLA, he joined the faculty in 1983, progressing through the academic ranks to become a full professor of medicine in 1993 and professor of pathology in 1996. His dual expertise in clinical medicine and molecular biology has positioned him as a unique bridge between basic science discoveries and their clinical applications in hematology and immunology.
Dr. Ganz's groundbreaking discovery and characterization of hepcidin and erythroferrone revolutionized the understanding of iron homeostasis, earning him international recognition as the principal architect of the modern understanding of systemic iron regulation. His seminal work identifying hepcidin as the central regulator of iron metabolism solved a long-standing mystery in hematology and created an entirely new field of research with profound implications for treating anemias and iron overload disorders. With over 400 publications and an impressive H-index of 174, his research has fundamentally reshaped clinical approaches to iron-related disorders, including anemia of inflammation and hemochromatosis. His work on antimicrobial peptides, particularly defensins and cathelicidins, has also provided critical insights into innate immunity and host defense mechanisms, establishing important connections between iron metabolism and immune function. These discoveries have directly influenced clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency and iron overload conditions worldwide.
Beyond his transformative discoveries, Dr. Ganz has profoundly influenced the scientific community through his leadership roles as President of the International Bioiron Society, Associate Editor of Blood and American Journal of Hematology, and member of National Institutes of Health study sections. He has mentored more than thirty graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty, cultivating the next generation of researchers in iron metabolism and immunology while helping to launch three biotechnology enterprises focused on diagnostic and therapeutic applications of hepcidin and erythroferrone. His continued research explores the intricate relationship between erythropoiesis and iron homeostasis, the role of iron in innate immunity and infection, and the pathogenesis of beta-thalassemia, promising further breakthroughs that could transform the treatment of hematological disorders. As an advisor to leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, Dr. Ganz continues to translate his fundamental discoveries into clinical applications that address unmet medical needs in hematology. Dr. Ganz's enduring legacy as a pioneering scientist continues to shape both basic research and clinical practice in hematology and immunology worldwide.
