John Abrams

John M. Abrams, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Cell Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He leads the Genetics, Development and Disease Graduate Program and directs the Abrams Lab, which explores molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death and tumor suppression through innovative genetic approaches in Drosophila, zebrafish, and mouse models.

• Cornell University (undergraduate, 1982)
• Stanford University (Ph.D., 1989)
• MIT (postdoctoral fellow, 1989-1994)

Dr. Abrams' research focuses on the p53 regulatory network, transposon suppression, and genomic stability. His lab discovered that p53 tonically represses mobile genetic elements, suggesting a novel 'transposopathy' model for cancer development. Current projects examine stimulus-dependent p53 action in stem cells and interventions to mitigate transposopathies.

Key findings include identifying the first global cell death defective mutation in Drosophila and the 'reaper' gene's role in apoptosis. His work on vector-targeted cytotoxins explores mosquito-specific insecticides for disease control, employing high-throughput screening platforms.

• Research Scholar Award - American Cancer Society
• Senior Scholar Award - Ellison Medical Foundation

Dr. Abrams mentors graduate students and postdocs in the Abrams Lab. His team includes current members Po Chen, Annika Wylie, and 17 alumni, reflecting extensive contributions to training in cancer biology and cell death research.