Johannes R. Kratz

Johannes R. Kratz, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine. He holds the Van Auken Endowed Chair in Thoracic Oncology and serves as Interim Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery. Kratz is also the Program Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program, Director of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Thoracic Surgery, and Medical Director of Robotic Surgery at UCSF Health, highlighting his dual leadership in both academic and clinical domains.

He earned his M.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Medical School, a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Stanford University, and completed his clinical training including a residency in General Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and a fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at UCSF. His academic credentials are further strengthened by additional training in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from UCSF.

Kratz’s research is centered on improving outcomes for patients with early-stage thoracic malignancies. His work focuses on developing and validating molecular prognostic assays, particularly a 14-gene signature for lung cancer, understanding tumor immunology, and advancing precision medicine through multi-omics and organoid models. He leads the Kratz Lab, which investigates the genetic and immunological drivers of lung, esophageal, and thymic cancers to discover novel therapeutic targets.

His most recent publications, spanning 2023–2025, reveal a strong emphasis on neoadjuvant targeted therapies (especially osimertinib), immune microenvironment profiling using spatial and single-cell techniques, molecular risk stratification, and surgical outcomes research. His work bridges clinical trials, translational science, and surgical innovation, with a growing interest in the impact of the pandemic on surgical care and biomarker development for precision oncology.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Van Auken Endowed Chair in Thoracic Oncology (2018)
• Michael DeBakey Research Scholarship, American Association for Thoracic Surgery (2019)
• Hellman Family Clinical-Translational Research Development Award (2019)
• UCSF Health Exceptional Physician Award (2017)
• Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators Excellence in Teaching Award (2019, 2023)
• Cardiothoracic Surgery Faculty Teaching Award (2021)
• Soma Weiss Scholar, Harvard Medical School (2005)
• Howard Hughes Research Training Fellowship (2004)

Kratz has been a Principal Investigator on multiple grants from the American Association of Thoracic Surgery, Bakar ImmunoX Foundation, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and UCSF. He actively mentors surgical trainees and contributes to medical education, reflected in his residency program leadership and teaching awards. He is also involved in clinical trials related to minimally invasive surgery and perioperative care. His lab, launched in 2018, is a hub for innovative research in early-stage lung cancer therapeutics.