J. Silvio GutkindProfessor

Dr. Gutkind's research team studies the molecular basis of cancer, with emphasis on basic mechanisms of signal transduction and cell growth control and their dysregulation in cancer, with emphasis on oral squamous cell carcinogenesis, AIDS-malignancies, and uveal and cutaneous melanoma. The goal of his research program is to exploit the emerging information on dysregulated signaling circuitries and individual genomic and molecular alterations to identify new mechanism-based precision therapies to prevent and treat cancer. In particular, Dr. Gutkind has recently led a multi-institutional effort aimed at exploring the biochemical consequences and clinical benefits of treating newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients with mTOR inhibitors. As part of a multidisciplinary team at Moores Cancer Center, he is now investigating the effectiveness and mechanism of action of PI3K/mTOR inhibitors for oral cancer prevention and treatment, both as single agents and as part of novel co-targeting strategies, and he is co-leading with Dr. Scott M. Lippman, Director, Moores Cancer Center, a new precision prevention medicine trial in oral premalignancy.
Interests
signal transduction, protein engineering, G protein-coupled receptors, G proteins, oral cancer, head and neck cancer, cancer immunotherapy, structure, ocular melanoma, Hippo pathway, mTOR pathway