معرفی
Rune Toftgård is a Professor at Karolinska Institutet, affiliated with the Department of Medicine, Huddinge. He is a leading researcher in cancer and molecular biology, with a focus on the Hedgehog signaling pathway and epithelial stem cells. His work has significantly advanced understanding of cancer development and stem cell regulation in skin and other tissues.
- PhD in Toxicology, Karolinska Institutet (1982)
- Docent, Karolinska Institutet (1985)
- Professor in Environmental Toxicology (1992)
His research centers on the Hedgehog signaling pathway, where he has elucidated the functional roles of key proteins such as SUFU, GLI1, and PTCH. He has demonstrated how dysregulation of this pathway contributes to cancers, particularly in the skin, colon, and mammary glands. Additionally, Toftgård has pioneered the identification and characterization of novel stem cell populations in the skin using markers like Lgr5 and Lgr6, contributing to fundamental knowledge in regenerative biology and oncogenesis.
His recent publications reveal a sustained focus on Hedgehog signaling across multiple cancer types, including medulloblastoma, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Themes include stem cell dynamics, tumor microenvironment interactions, and molecular mechanisms of oncogenic transformation. His work integrates mouse models, molecular genetics, and biochemical analysis to dissect signaling networks.
- Grand Silver Medal, Karolinska Institutet (2021)
Toftgård has led major research initiatives including the CIMED program and the StratCan cancer network, and has served on the Nobel Assembly and Nobel Committee. His lab has received continuous funding from the Swedish Cancer Society and the Swedish Research Council for projects on Hedgehog signaling and epithelial stem cells. He has also fostered numerous international collaborations with institutions in Europe and the US.
He is part of Luca Jovine's research group focusing on structural studies of fertilization and zona pellucida proteins, indicating ongoing collaborative and interdisciplinary research activity.
