Samuel G. Katz

Samuel G. Katz, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Pathology at Yale University School of Medicine with primary appointments in Pathology and multiple secondary affiliations including Genomics, Genetics and Epigenetics, Hematopathology, Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology and Physiology, and the Yale Cancer Center. His research bridges fundamental cell death mechanisms with translational immunotherapy approaches.

Dr. Katz earned his combined B.S./M.S. from Yale University in 1995, followed by dual M.D./Ph.D. training through the Health Sciences & Technology program at MIT and Harvard. His PhD thesis with Stuart H. Orkin focused on transcriptional regulation of hematopoiesis. He completed pathology residency and hematopathology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital, followed by postdoctoral studies on apoptosis with Loren D. Walensky at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

His research focuses on BCL-2 family proteins, particularly the poorly understood BOK protein, which resides in one of the 20 most frequently deleted genomic regions in human cancers. The lab investigates how BCL-2 proteins regulate cell viability and integrate multiple cellular functions beyond apoptosis. Using conditional mouse knockouts, biochemistry, and genetic screening, the lab aims to unravel complex cellular signaling pathways to develop therapeutic strategies against cancer.

The Katz Lab has published consistently in high-impact journals with recent work spanning from fundamental BCL-2 protein mechanisms to CAR-T cell engineering. The lab's research shows a clear trajectory from basic molecular mechanisms to translational immunotherapy applications, particularly in lymphoma and leukemia.

• Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium Member (2011)
• Career Development Award, Mentored (K08) from NIH (2010)
• Post-Doctoral Fellow Career Development Award from Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (2008)
• Yamaguchi Award in Hematology Research (1999)
• Pre-Doctoral Fellow Award from Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1998)

Dr. Katz leads a vibrant research group that includes graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and research scientists. His lab collaborates extensively with the Yale New Haven Hospital's Advanced Cell Therapy core and clinical oncologists. The lab was recently awarded an NIH grant to study the role of BOK protein in the cell death pathway, demonstrating continued research excellence and funding success. Dr. Katz also maintains active clinical work as a hematopathologist, diagnosing blood cancers and collaborating with clinicians on patient care.

The Katz Lab maintains strong connections with the Yale Cancer Center and Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology, positioning it at the forefront of cancer research and immunotherapy development. The lab's work on reprogramming immune cells using multifactor mRNA approaches represents a cutting-edge direction in cancer treatment.