Lukas Sommer

Lukas Sommer is a Full Professor at the University of Zurich, holding dual affiliations with the Faculty of Medicine and the Science Faculty. He leads the Institute of Anatomy and focuses on neural crest stem cell development, tumorigenesis, and tissue regeneration. His research bridges developmental biology and cancer biology, with emphasis on melanoma and fibrotic diseases. He completed his PhD at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC) and conducted postdoctoral research at Caltech before returning to Switzerland in 1997. He co-directs the interdisciplinary initiative SKINTEGRITY.CH, addressing skin diseases through collaborative research. His work is supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation, Swiss Cancer Research Foundation, and private foundations. Sommer oversees a lab with PhD candidates, postdocs, and technical staff, advancing studies on stem cell plasticity and therapeutic strategies targeting cancer and regenerative medicine.

Education & Career:

• PhD in Cancer Research (ISREC, 1992)
• Postdoctoral Research: California Institute of Technology (1992–1997)
• Group Leader at ETH Zurich Institute of Cell Biology (1997–2007)
• Full Professor at University of Zurich (since 2007)

Research Interests:

• Mechanisms of neural crest stem cell differentiation and malignancy
• Role of developmental pathways in melanoma progression
• Immunotherapeutic strategies targeting fibroblastic and tumor cells
• Epigenetic regulation of cancer cell plasticity

Lab & Collaborations:

• SKINTEGRITY.CH: Integrates dermatology, immunology, and regenerative medicine
• Active collaborations across disciplines including oncology, cell biology, and translational research
• Lab members: PhD candidates (e.g., Isabel Ballwein, Jana Bangerter) and postdoctoral researchers (e.g., Andrea Kelemen, Dilara Yilmaz)