James Woodgett
James (Jim) Woodgett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 February 1960 Leicestershire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Research Institute Director (2005-21) and Principal Investigator |
| Known for | co-discoveries of the molecules PKB/Akt and SAPK/JNKs, and the functions of the GSK-3 genes. |
| Spouse | Caroline |
| Awards | Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada |
| Academic background | |
| Education | BSc University of York, PhD University of Dundee |
| Doctoral advisor | Sir Philip Cohen |
| Other advisors | Tony Hunter, Salk Institute |
| Influences | Louis Siminovitch |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Molecular Biology |
| Sub-discipline | Molecular Biology |
| Institutions | Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto |
| Notable ideas | Characterization of the biological role of protein kinases including GSK-3, protein kinase B/Akt and stress-activated protein kinases |
| Website | https://www.lunenfeld.ca/ |
James (Jim) Woodgett is a British-born biologist and the Principal Investigator of an active research laboratory at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System (formerly Mount Sinai Hospital), in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was the Koffler Director of Research at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute from November 2005 to January 2021.
Woodgett's research spans the fields of Signal Transduction, Cancer Stem Cells, Diabetes, and Neurological Disorders. He is known for his co-discoveries of the molecules PKB/Akt and SAPK/JNKs, which have central roles in the evolution of cancer. Woodgett is also an authority on the functions of the GSK-3 genes, which play significant roles in insulin/diabetes and brain development/Alzheimer's disease, as well as bipolar disorder.
Woodgett is a long-time advocate for increasing public support for science and medical research. He is known for his science communication and public science outreach, as well as his support for Women in STEM and early career researchers.
Woodgett is frequently interviewed by journalists to provide commentary on questions of research relating to health matters, and also medical and science research funding and policy.