David J. Shapiro

David J. Shapiro is a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology. He holds leadership roles in the Cancer Center at Illinois. His research focuses on anticancer drug discovery, leveraging small molecules like ErSO to target cancer cell survival pathways. Shapiro earned his B.S. from Brooklyn College (1967), Ph.D. from Purdue University (1972), and postdoctoral training at Stanford University. His work integrates CRISPR screens, high-throughput assays, and animal models to develop therapies targeting metastatic cancers.

Key research areas include the unfolded protein response (UPR), estrogen receptor signaling, and necrosis pathways. His lab’s breakthrough compound ErSO induces cancer cell necrosis while activating immune responses, offering promise for immunotherapy. Shapiro has received prestigious awards, including the Eugene Howe Scholar distinction and Guggenheim Fellowship. His over 130 publications include seminal work on estrogen receptor biology and granzyme inhibitors.

Awards highlight his contributions to cancer biology, including media recognition from Science Daily and Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. Shapiro collaborates with institutions like the Cancer Center at Illinois and maintains labs focused on translational cancer research.