John Minna

Dr. John Minna is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern), serving as Director of the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research. He holds distinguished chairs in Molecular Pulmonary Oncology and Cancer Research. His career spans over four decades, with leadership roles at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and collaborations with institutions like MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research focuses on lung cancer pathogenesis, translational therapies, and genomic-driven treatment strategies.

Education: Dr. Minna graduated from Stanford Medical School, completed residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, and held research positions at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and NCI. His work includes pioneering studies on lung cancer genetics, tumor microenvironment dynamics, and immune checkpoint modulation.

Research interests include molecular mechanisms driving lung cancer progression, development of predictive biomarkers (e.g., circulating mitochondrial DNA), and drug resistance pathways. He co-leads the UTSW Simmons Cancer Center’s Experimental Therapeutics Program, advancing personalized medicine strategies.

Awards: He has received over 20 major awards, including the ASCO Statesman Award (2007), Baylor College of Medicine’s Helis Foundation Award (2010), and recognition for leadership in SPORE grants. His H-index of 193 reflects profound scientific impact.

Grants and Collaborations: He leads multi-institutional initiatives, including NCI SPORE grants and CPRIT-funded projects targeting lung cancer vulnerabilities. His lab investigates metabolic dependencies (e.g., LKB1 deficiency), immune evasion mechanisms, and combinations of immunotherapy with targeted agents.

Labs/Teams: His work is conducted in collaboration with the Hamon Center, UTSW’s Department of Pharmacology, and industry partnerships. His team includes researchers like Dr. Fujimoto and Dr. Heymach, focusing on preclinical models and clinical trials.