Lewis C. Cantley, PhD

Lewis C. Cantley, PhD

Contact Information

Office Phone Number

+1 (617) 632-5034

Biography

Lewis C. Cantley, PhD

Dr. Lew Cantley is a leader in the field of cancer signaling and metabolism. His lab and the lab of Tom Roberts discovered and characterized the PI3 kinase pathway and its role in cancer development and progression. Cantley’s lab has done groundbreaking work on deciphering protein kinase signaling pathways. More recently, his lab has revealed the substrate specificity of the human Serine/Threonine and Tyrosine kinome. Lew has also founded several companies including Agios Pharmaceuticals.   

Lew started his lab at Harvard (1978-1985), moved to Tufts University Medical Center (1985-1992) and then was at Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for 20 years (1992-2012) before moving to Weill Cornell. He was Director of the Cancer Center at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as the Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell/New York Presbyterian Hospital.  In 2022, he returned to Boston to join Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. 

For his contributions to science, Lew has received many prestigious awards including the Canada Gairdner Award, the Wolf Prize, the Breakthrough Prize and the Pezcoller/AACR International Award for Cancer Research. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2001.

Researcher

Physician

Professor of Cell Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School

Clinical Interests

PI3K, PTEN

Medical School

  • Cornell University, Biophysical Chemistry

Recent Awards

  • 2020: Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research
  • 2020: National Academy of Inventors
  • 2019: Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize
  • 2017: OncLive Giants of Cancer Care
  • 2016: The Hope Funds Award of Excellence in Basic Science
  • 2016: Wolf Prize in Medicine
  • 2015: AACR Princess Takamatsu Memorial Lectureship
  • 2015: The Association of American Cancer Institutes Distinguished Scientist Award
  • 2015: Elected to European life sciences academy EMBO
  • 2015: Gairdner Award
  • 2015: Ross Prize
  • 2014: National Academy of Medicine
  • 2014: Fellow of the AACR Academy
  • 2013: H.C. Jacobaeus Prize, Stockholm
  • 2011: Pasarow Award for Cancer Research
  • 2009: Rolf Luft Award for Diabetes and Endocrinology Research, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
  • 2005: Pezcoller/AACR International Award for Cancer Research
  • 2002: Caledonian Prize, Royal Society of Edinburgh
  • 2001: National Academy of Sciences
  • 2000: Heinrich Wieland Preis for Lipid Research, Munich, Germany
  • 1999: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 1998: ASBMB Avanti Award for Lipid Re

Research

    The role of metabolism in driving cancer growth

    The Cantley lab is focused on advancing our understanding of cancer biology, particularly in the realm of cellular metabolism and signal transduction. Central to our research is the study of the PI3K pathway, a key regulator in cell growth and survival, and its role in cancer development and progression. Our mission encompasses a multifaceted approach: 

    • Elucidating the PI3K Pathway: We aim to dissect the complexities of the PI3K pathway, understanding its function in normal cells and how its dysregulation contributes to cancer. 
    • Investigating Metabolic Dependencies: By identifying the unique metabolic needs of cancer cells, our research seeks to uncover potential therapeutic vulnerabilities across various cancer types. 
    • Overcoming Drug Resistance: A significant portion of our work is dedicated to unraveling the mechanisms behind cancer drug resistance and tumor progression, aiming to enhance the efficacy of current treatments. 
    • Translational Impact: Bridging laboratory discoveries with clinical applications is a key objective. We strive to translate our findings into novel, effective treatment strategies that can be evaluated in clinical trials.

    Research Departments

    Locations

    Location Avtar

    Longwood Center

    450 Brookline Avenue Longwood Center LC-5212 Boston, MA 02215
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    Longwood Center

    Location Avtar

    Longwood Center

    450 Brookline Avenue Longwood Center LC-5212 Boston, MA 02215
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    42.3374, -71.1082

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