Michael Ohh

Professor Michael Ohh, a leading researcher in molecular oncology and hypoxia signaling at the University of Toronto, has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding cancer biology. His work focuses on the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor protein and RAS oncoprotein, elucidating their roles in oxygen sensing and signal transduction pathways. A former Terry Fox Laboratory and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researcher, he co-authored seminal studies that contributed to the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

• Key research areas: VHL-HIF oxygen-sensing pathway, RAS GTPase regulation
• Major awards: Canadian Cancer Society Dorval Prize, Premier’s Research Excellence Award, Canada Research Chair
• Publications: Over 100 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Nature, Science, and Cell Metabolism

His lab employs multidisciplinary approaches combining molecular biology and protein biochemistry to train future scientists, many of whom have joined top institutions worldwide. Current projects aim to develop rational anti-cancer therapeutics based on fundamental cell biology discoveries.