Boaz Tirosh

Boaz Tirosh, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. He is also a member of the Developmental Therapeutics Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research investigates the molecular mechanisms of stress signaling in cancer and immunity, particularly focusing on how cells transition from acute to chronic stress and how this contributes to drug resistance and disease pathologies such as diabetes and neurodegeneration.

Dr. Tirosh's research interests lie at the intersection of cellular stress responses, cancer biology, and immunology. His laboratory employs CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis, bioinformatics, and biochemical approaches to study endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, mTOR signaling, protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs), and DnaJ proteins. A central theme is understanding how anti-cancer therapies that induce cellular stress can paradoxically lead to adaptive resistance mechanisms in tumors.

The recent publication record reveals a strong focus on ER stress, the unfolded protein response (UPR), mTOR signaling, and their roles in cancer, immunity, and metabolic diseases. Articles span topics from pancreatic β-cell plasticity in diabetes to myeloid infiltration in glioblastoma, highlighting the broad physiological relevance of stress signaling pathways. The work often bridges basic molecular mechanisms with translational applications, including drug development and repurposing.

Scientific Contributions and Recognition:

• Discovered that interference with stress adaptation can prevent surface deposition of cancer-related receptors via modulation of protein disulfide isomerases.
• Elucidated roles of mTOR in immune cell activation and drug resistance.
• Contributed to understanding how metabolic and stress pathways intersect in cancer and metabolic diseases.

Advising and Research Support: While specific students are not listed, Dr. Tirosh leads an active research laboratory with multiple publications involving trainees and collaborators. His work is supported by ongoing research grants, as evidenced by sustained high-impact output in journals such as Nature, Science Translational Medicine, and Nature Communications.

Laboratory and Research Team: The Tirosh Laboratory utilizes a multidisciplinary approach combining genetic, biochemical, and bioinformatic tools to dissect stress signaling networks. The team collaborates widely across institutions, as seen in co-authorship with researchers in cancer, immunology, and metabolism fields.