Jason Mills

Dr. Jason Mills is the Herman Brown Endowed Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, where he serves as Chief of Research and Vice Chief in the Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. He is also Co-Director of the Texas Medical Center Digestive Disease Center and Co-Associate Director for Cancer Research Training and Education at the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Mills leads the Mills Lab, which focuses on cellular reprogramming and cancer mechanisms.

Dr. Mills received his AB from Washington University in St. Louis (1989), followed by an MD-PhD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1997). He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Washington University Medical Center (2002).

Dr. Mills' research centers on paligenosis, a cellular program he identified that allows mature cells to return to a regenerative state. His work explores how this process contributes to tissue repair but also increases cancer risk through the development of precancerous conditions like metaplasia. Using organoid models derived from patient cancer cells and genetic mouse strains, his lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of cellular plasticity in gastric biology, with implications for cancer prevention and treatment. His research integrates cell biology, metabolism, and translational approaches to understand how cells adapt to stressors.

Analysis of Dr. Mills' recent publications reveals a strong focus on the molecular mechanisms of paligenosis and its role in gastric metaplasia and cancer development. His work spans basic cell biology investigations of cellular reprogramming to translational studies using patient-derived organoids. Key themes include the role of transcription factors like SOX9, metabolic regulation of cell fate decisions, and the identification of biomarkers for cancer progression.

Dr. Mills has received several prestigious awards, including:

• Excellence in Research and Leadership Award from Baylor College of Medicine (2022)
• Top Reviewer for Gastroenterology from the American Gastroenterological Association (2022)
• Membership Induction to the Association of American Physicians (2022)
• Research Mentor Award from the AGA Institute Council (2022)

Dr. Mills currently mentors several graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the Mills Lab. His research is supported by multiple NIH grants totaling over $30 million, including R01 grants from NCI and NIDDK focused on mechanisms of paligenosis, metaplasia, and gastric cancer development. These grants support investigations into cellular reprogramming, stem cell differentiation, and therapeutic approaches for precancerous lesions.

The Mills Lab maintains a collection of organoids derived from patient cancer cells and utilizes advanced techniques including single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. The lab collaborates with clinicians at Baylor College of Medicine and across the Texas Medical Center to translate basic findings into clinical applications for personalized cancer treatment.