Janet A. Houghton, Ph.D., Chairs the Department of Cancer Biology.

Dr. Janet A. Houghton, a leader in the field of cancer research and treatment, has been selected as the new Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology at LRI.  Dr. Houghton arrived from the Department of Hematology-Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she spent much of her scientific career.  Dr. Houghton assumed her new position at LRI on October 23, 2006.

Dr. Houghton received her Ph.D. from the University of London’s Institute of Cancer Research in Surrey, England.  She then spent nearly 30 years at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, quickly moving through the ranks of Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Associate, Assistant Member and Associate Member to full Member.  She has published more than 129 original articles on human tumor xenograft models, experimental therapeutics, drug resistance, solid tumors, colon carcinoma and rhabdomyosarcoma as specific human diseases, regulation of drug-induced cell death or apoptosis, oncogenes and apoptosis, Fas-induced apoptosis in solid tumors, and signaling and regulation of death receptors.  Dr. Houghton is on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Oncology and is Senior Editor for Cancer Research.  She also serves on several study sections and review boards. 

Currently, Dr. Houghton’s research program is focused on understanding the role of death receptors of the TNF receptor superfamily and their signaling pathways in drug-induced apoptosis in solid tumors.  The long term goal of her work is to manipulate apoptotic pathways to selectively destroy cancer cells and thus improve clinical outcomes.          

It is clear that Dr. Houghton’s passion for science will lead to a great vision for the Department of Cancer Biology at LRI and that her talent for science will help it become reality.

Taken from Cancer Bio Clips, Volume 4, Issue 2, August 2006.