Jorge Gutkind

Jorge Gutkind is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine, and serves as Associate Director of Basic Science at the UCSD Moores Cancer Center. He holds academic affiliations in molecular pharmacology and cancer research. His research focuses on cancer biology, particularly oral and head and neck cancers, with an emphasis on signal transduction pathways, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and immune-oncology mechanisms. Gutkind is renowned for his work on the Hippo/YAP and mTOR pathways and their roles in tumor initiation and therapy resistance.

Education: Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Biochemistry (University of Buenos Aires, 1985), M.Sc. in Biochemistry and Pharmacy (University of Buenos Aires, 1983 and 1980).

Research interests include cancer immunotherapy, oncogenic signaling networks, and drug discovery targeting GPCRs and tumor microenvironment interactions. His lab explores mechanisms of cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance, with recent advances in combination therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy) and precision medicine approaches.

Notable achievements include election to the National Academy of Medicine (2019), co-chairmanship of the Gordon Conference in Molecular Pharmacology, and multiple NIH grants. His research has led to insights into YAP-driven cancer stem cells, mTOR pathway inhibitors, and GPCR-driven oncogenesis.

Grants/Activities: Principal Investigator on NIH-funded projects such as 'Multidisciplinary Educational Approach to Reducing Cancer Disparities' (R25CA221779) and 'Targeting the EGFR-PI3K/mTOR Signaling Circuitry' (R01DE026870). Active in collaborative initiatives like the PRECOGx GPCR signaling platform and CRISPR-based drug screens.

Labs/Teams: Directs a multidisciplinary lab at UCSD Moores Cancer Center, collaborating on projects in cancer systems biology, immunotherapy, and pharmacogenomics. Engaged in translational research to bridge basic discoveries with clinical applications.