Dr. Tyler Jacks stands as a preeminent leader in molecular oncology whose pioneering work has fundamentally transformed our understanding of cancer genetics and tumor development. He currently serves as the David H. Koch Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a position he has held since 2007 after joining the MIT faculty in 1992. Educated at Harvard College for his undergraduate degree and the University of California, San Francisco for his doctorate under Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus, Jacks completed his postdoctoral training with Robert Weinberg at the Whitehead Institute before establishing his independent research program. His distinguished career includes serving as founding director of the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research from 2007 to 2021, where he pioneered an innovative interdisciplinary approach that brought together biologists and engineers to address complex cancer challenges.
Jacks' groundbreaking research has centered on developing genetically engineered mouse models that accurately recapitulate human cancer, providing invaluable tools for understanding tumor development and testing novel therapeutic approaches. He pioneered the use of gene targeting technology in mice to study cancer-associated genes, creating models of over nine human cancer types including lung, brain, and ovarian cancers that have become essential resources for the global research community. His laboratory's seminal contributions to understanding mutations in key cancer-associated genes like K-ras and p53 have yielded novel insights into tumor suppression mechanisms and cellular processes with profound implications for cancer detection and treatment strategies. The widespread adoption of his models and methodologies has catalyzed significant advances in preclinical cancer research, making possible the development of more targeted and effective therapeutic interventions.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Professor Jacks has played a transformative role in shaping the cancer research landscape through visionary leadership and strategic collaboration. Since 2021, he has served as President of Break Through Cancer, a foundation that unites multidisciplinary research teams across five leading institutions to accelerate progress against some of cancer's most challenging forms. His commitment to fostering collaborative science is evident in his leadership of the Koch Institute, which was intentionally designed to maximize interaction between cancer scientists and engineers, creating a powerful synergy that has produced numerous translational advances. As he continues his work at the forefront of cancer biology, Jacks remains dedicated to developing increasingly sophisticated genetic models and exploring tumor immunology, driving forward the field's understanding of cancer-immune system interactions and informing the next generation of immunotherapeutic approaches.
