John S. Lazo

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John Stephen Lazo is an American pharmacologist noted for his work discovering the fundamental mechanisms of action of small molecule therapeutics and the factors that confer drug resistance. He is a professor emeritus of pharmacology at University of Virginia.

Early life and education[edit]

Lazo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and spent his childhood growing up outside of Camden, New Jersey. In high school, he ran cross-country and track and was a member of the school's debating team. He earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry at Johns Hopkins University and was awarded a PhD in pharmacology under the mentorship of Raymond W. Ruddon at the University of Michigan. Lazo completed postdoctoral training in cancer pharmacology with Alan C. Sartorelli at Yale University.

Career and research work[edit]

Lazo joined the faculty at Yale University and achieved the rank of Associate Professor of Pharmacology before moving to the University of Pittsburgh as the Allegheny Foundation Professor and Chair of Pharmacology, a position he held for seventeen years.[1] Lazo subsequently became the founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute and the Fiske Drug Discovery Laboratory. In 2011, Lazo moved to the University of Virginia as the associate dean for basic research and the Harrison Distinguished Teaching Professor of Pharmacology. He held a secondary appointment in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia and an adjunct professorship at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute. He is now an emeritus professor at both the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Virginia.[2] Lazo's current primary research interests are in molecular pharmacology and drug discovery with a particular focus on anticancer drugs and protein tyrosine phosphatases.[3][4][5] He has authored or coauthored over 380 publications, holds 12 issued patents, and has co-founded several biotechnology companies. Currently, Lazo is the Chief Scientific Officer at KeViRx, Inc.[6][7]

Selected awards and honors[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "John S. Lazo, PhD - Secondary Faculty - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology". University of Pittsburgh.
  2. ^ "Lazo, John S." University of Virginia.
  3. ^ "Big Ideas: Local doctors and scientists pursue innovation". C-VILLE Weekly.
  4. ^ "The Quant King, the Drug Hunter, and the Quest to Unlock New Cures". Bloomberg.com. 12 June 2018.
  5. ^ "How cancer cells make lactic acid to survive". Phys.org.
  6. ^ "New Grant". Fiske Drug Discovery Laboratory. 30 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Kudos to Drs. Lazo and Sharlow: KeViRx Awarded Second NIH R43 Grant". Department of Pharmacology. 5 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Newly Elected AAAS Officers Announced". American Association for the Advancement of Science.
  9. ^ "PEOPLE OF THE TIMES". University Times.
  10. ^ "2019 Fellows Bios". ASPET.
  11. ^ "Fellows Review Committee". ASPET.
  12. ^ "MCT Focus | Radiation Oncology | Molecular Cancer Therapeutics". American Association for Cancer Research.
  13. ^ "Pitt, museum join forces to offer new course for medical students". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  14. ^ "Pitt professor chairs cancer grants council". Business Journals.