Pharmacology
Department Chair
The goal of Dr. Gutkind's research program is to exploit the emerging information on dysregulated signaling circuitries and individual genomic and molecular alterations to identify new therapeutic options to prevent and treat cancer. His laboratory has focused on the study of the oncogenic activity of G proteins and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including virally encoded GPCRs, to dissect the signaling pathways regulating normal and aberrant cell growth, tumor-induced angiogenesis, and metastasis. They are investigating the mechanisms by which genetic mutations in Gαq proteins initiate uveal and cutaneous melanoma, the role of Gαs and its target, PKA, in cancer, and how mutations and autocrine activation of GPCRs contribute to tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. In parallel, they are exploring the role of the mTOR pathway in cancers of the oral cavity, a disease that results in 250,000 deaths each year worldwide. Based on their prior studies, and emerging results from their recently completed multi-institutional clinical trial targeting mTOR in oral cancer, they are now investigating the effectiveness and mechanism of action of PI3K/mTOR inhibitors for oral cancer prevention and treatment, as single agents and as part of novel multimodal immunotherapies.
Bio
Dr. J. Silvio Gutkind, a distinguished professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the UC San Diego School of Medicine since 2015, boasts an illustrious career in cancer research and pharmacology. Before joining UC San Diego, he spent nearly three decades at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he held positions such as chief of the Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch and chief of the Cell Growth Regulation and Molecular Carcinogenesis Sections at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Dr. Gutkind's journey began in a semi-rural area near Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was raised by the town's sole pharmacist and health professional. Inspired by his father's commitment to compassionate patient care, Gutkind pursued higher education, earning Master of Science degrees and a Ph.D. in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from the University of Buenos Aires.
Gutkind has made significant contributions to the field of molecular pharmacology, with over 500 research articles published in journals such as Cell, Nature, and Science. He has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine and serves as the chair of the Division of Molecular Pharmacology for the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Additionally, Gutkind has received the International Association of Dental Research’s Distinguished Scientist Award, the NIH Merit Award, the NIH Director’s Award, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America’s Research & Hope Award for Excellence in Academic Research, recognizing his groundbreaking work on G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) function in cancer.