Avi Ashkenazi Director, Sr. Staff Scientist: Molecular Oncology Profile | Education/Background | Top Scientific Papers | Awards & Honors

"I joined Genentech's Research department as a postdoc in 1988 because it was (and continues to be) one of the best research institutions in the world. Since then, I have investigated a variety of cellular signal transduction mechanisms, including the apoptosis pathways, and have developed technologies to harness these for therapeutic intervention in cancer and other diseases. My research group has contributed to significant advances in basic science, including the independent discovery of the pro-apoptotic ligand Apo2L/TRAIL and its receptors. Furthermore, we have translated some of our findings into key drug candidates for Genentech's oncology development pipeline."

Current Projects "Our group is interested in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand and receptor superfamilies, their biological roles in normal physiology, and their potential utility as agents or targets for the treatment of cancer and other important human diseases. We are elucidating the apoptosis signaling mechanisms of Apo2L/TRAIL and its receptors and are assessing their potential utility for cancer therapy. Another focus area in our group is the protein family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and their roles in cancer biology. We also are exploring key cancer-driving interactions between malignant cells and their nonmalignant neighbors within the tumor microenvironment and have identified certain secreted, tumor-overexpressed proteins (STOPs) that may control this cross-talk."

Collaborations "Within Genentech, the most exciting collaborations I have been involved with are the Apo2L/TRAIL and Apomab project teams, and more recently, some of our RTK and STOP teams. I enjoy working with my colleagues in the Molecular Oncology department: the research associates, postdocs and scientists. We also have had very fruitful collaborations with members of other Genentech departments, including Bioinformatics, Protein Chemistry and Engineering, Antibody Engineering, Translational Oncology, Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, as well as with Development and Process Sciences and Clinical Oncology. As for outside collaborations, we are working with Amgen on Apo2L/TRAIL, and with many academic investigators interested in the TNF superfamily, apoptosis, and some of the RTK and STOP molecules."

Inspiration/Vision "I believe that the most important purpose of science is to advance human knowledge toward practical applications that can transform or save human lives. Genentech allows its scientists intellectual freedom and the opportunity to pursue their ideas toward realizing this goal in the area of medicine. We have created a stimulating and challenging atmosphere that is conducive to integrating the pursuit of basic scientific questions with the conception and development of breakthrough therapies for important human diseases.

I hope that my group's research efforts will continue to bring exciting findings that will someday help us beat cancer."