Douglas Lake

Douglas Lake is a Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University (ASU), and affiliated with the Biodesign Center for Personalized Diagnostics. He has been at ASU since 2006 and previously worked at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. His research focuses on tumor immunology, particularly the role of QSOX1 enzyme in cancer progression, and developing diagnostic tools for Valley Fever and SARS-CoV-2.

His laboratory investigates QSOX1’s role in tumor growth and metastasis, as well as creating inhibitors targeting this enzyme. For Valley Fever, he develops urine-based diagnostic tests to detect the fungus Coccidioides earlier. During the pandemic, Dr. Lake pioneered a rapid antibody test measuring neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, enabling personalized vaccination decisions.

He teaches immunology and microbiology at the undergraduate level and advanced cell biology at the graduate level. His research has been funded by grants from NIH, Mayo Clinic, and other institutions, focusing on biomarker discovery, enzyme inhibition, and diagnostic development.

Dr. Lake’s service includes NIH study sections and roles in academic governance, such as interim director of the MCB graduate program. His work bridges basic research with clinical applications, addressing critical gaps in infectious disease diagnostics and cancer therapy.