Jason Gertz

Jason Gertz serves as Professor of Oncological Sciences and Adjunct Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah's Huntsman Cancer Institute, where he directs a research program investigating transcription factor dynamics in cancer genomics. His work integrates experimental genomics with computational analysis to elucidate mechanisms of gene regulation dysregulation in malignancies.

His academic credentials include a B.A. from Cornell University and a Ph.D. from Washington University School of Medicine, providing foundational expertise in molecular biology and genomic technologies.

Gertz's research focuses on transcription factor binding specificity, estrogen receptor signaling in endometrial and breast cancers, and CRISPR-based genomic engineering. Key projects examine transcription factor mutation consequences in cancer, identification of tumor-specific enhancers, tissue-specific estrogen responses, and synthetic transcription factor development for gene expression control. His methodologies emphasize next-generation sequencing and computational genomics to map regulatory networks.

Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals dominant themes: ESR1 mutation impacts on metastasis, progesterone-estrogen crosstalk in gynecological cancers, and 3D genomic structural alterations driving oncogene expression. These works increasingly incorporate multi-omic database development (e.g., EstroGene2.0) and immune microenvironment interactions.

No scientific awards were documented in the source materials.

Dr. Gertz leads an active laboratory developing genomic techniques including FFPEcap-seq for formalin-fixed sample analysis and synthetic transcription factor systems. His research program demonstrates sustained NIH funding through consistent publication output and methodological innovation in cancer genomics.

The Gertz Lab employs genome editing, chromatin conformation capture, and computational approaches within the Huntsman Cancer Institute's collaborative research ecosystem, focusing on translating genomic discoveries into therapeutic insights for hormone-driven cancers.