Phil Hieter

Phil Hieter is a Professor at the University of British Columbia, affiliated with the Michael Smith Laboratories and the Department of Medical Genetics. He holds an associate membership in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His research focuses on genome stability, chromosome biology, and the application of model organisms (e.g., yeast, C. elegans) to understand cancer mechanisms and develop therapeutic strategies. Hieter’s work has identified synthetic lethal interactions as potential drug targets for cancers with genome instability. He is a leader in advancing rare disease research through collaborative networks like the Canadian Rare Diseases: Models and Mechanisms (RDMM) Network.

Education: PhD in 1981 from Johns Hopkins University.

Research Interests: Chromosome transmission fidelity, synthetic lethality in cancer, and leveraging model organisms to diagnose and treat rare diseases. His lab has pioneered methods to identify genes involved in genome instability and drug targets using yeast genetics.

Key Awards: Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and recipient of the 2018 George W. Beadle Award for contributions to genetics.

Grants and Collaborations: His work has been supported by CIHR, NIH, and other agencies. He has advised numerous students and postdocs, contributing to their roles in advancing genetic and genomic research.

Labs and Teams: Hieter leads the Hieter Lab at the Michael Smith Laboratories, focusing on chromosome biology and translational research. The lab collaborates internationally to bridge fundamental and clinical research in cancer and rare diseases.