Professor Tak-wah Mak , OC, PhD, DSc (Hons), MD, FRSC, FRS

Director, The Campbell Family for Breast Cancer Research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network

Senior Staff Scientist, Ontario Cancer Institute

University Professor, Department of Medicine, Medical Biophysics and Immunology, University of Toronto

Toronto, Canada

 
Biography:
 
My research interests center on immune recognition and regulation as well as cell survival and cell death in normal and malignant cells. I was the leading scientist of the group that first cloned the genes of the human T cell antigen receptor. My more recent work includes leading the creation of a series of genetically altered mice that have proved critical to unraveling intracellular programs governing the development and function of the immune system, and the dissection of signal transduction cascades in various cell survival and apoptotic pathways. My laboratory team is also expert in basic cancer research both in vitro and in vivo. We have published numerous scientific papers on cancer biology, including the initial discovery that the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are related to DNA repair. More recently, we have determined that IDH mutations are involved in cancerogenesis and alterations of epigenetics.
 
To complement my lab’s excellence in basic research, I have initiated an anti-cancer drug discovery program based on my extensive industrial and commercialization experience. My group thus has significant experience in recognizing promising drug targets, and carrying out translational and preclinical studies, and assisting with early stage clinical testing.
 
In addition to my academic credentials, I have extensive industrial and commercialization experience. Numerous highly respected researchers and scientists in both academia and industry, in Canada as well as around the world, have trained in my laboratory.
 
Session:
 
20th November 2015 (Friday) 18:15 - 18:45
 
Plenary Section I
Future Oncology Targets: Immunotherapy, Metabolism and Aneuploidy