Sir Tony Kouzarides is a distinguished cancer biologist whose pioneering work on epigenetic mechanisms has reshaped modern cancer research. He currently serves as Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Cambridge, Senior Group Leader at the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, and Director of the Milner Therapeutics Institute. After completing his BSc at Leeds University and PhD at the University of Cambridge, he conducted postdoctoral research at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and NYU Medical Center before establishing his independent research group at the Gurdon Institute. His leadership extends beyond his laboratory as Deputy Director of the Gurdon Institute and founding non-executive director of Abcam, cementing his position at the forefront of Cambridge's biomedical research ecosystem.
Professor Kouzarides' groundbreaking research began with his lab's identification of the first human enzymes to modify chromatin in 1996, a seminal discovery that opened an entirely new field of investigation in cancer biology. His subsequent work has characterized numerous chromatin modification pathways and established their fundamental role in cancer development and progression. In the 22-year period from 1996-2017, he was consistently ranked among the top ten most cited scientists at the University of Cambridge across all disciplines, reflecting the extraordinary impact of his contributions. More recently, his laboratory has pioneered research on mRNA modifications and their connections to cancer, revealing novel therapeutic targets within RNA modification pathways. This work has directly led to the development of innovative cancer therapeutics through the identification of small molecule inhibitors targeting RNA modification enzymes.
As a translational scientist, Kouzarides has successfully bridged fundamental research and clinical applications, co-founding STORM Therapeutics in 2015 to develop first-in-class drugs targeting RNA modifications for cancer treatment. His exceptional contributions to healthcare innovation were recognized with a British knighthood in the 2024 King's Birthday Honors. He maintains influential leadership roles including membership on the executive board of the Cambridge Cancer Centre and advisory positions at research institutes in Spain. Currently, his laboratory continues to investigate the functions of RNA modifications while advancing promising therapeutic approaches through collaboration with STORM Therapeutics, positioning his work at the forefront of the next generation of cancer treatments.
