Johannes Kratz, MD Recipient of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Michael DeBakey Research Scholarship

UCSF surgeon-scientist Johannes R. Kratz, M.D. has been awarded the Michael DeBakey Research Scholarship by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) and AATS Foundation. This two-year research scholarship is awarded annually to a single North American surgeon committed to pursuing an academic career in cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Kratz was given this prestigious award for the study of genetic and immunologic determinants of recurrent early-stage lung cancer.

The Kratz Lab focuses on the genetic and immunological mechanisms that drive early-stage, surgically resectable thoracic malignancies. These malignancies include lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and thymic cancer. The lab uses novel high-dimensional techniques such as genomic DNA and RNA sequencing, single-cell RNAseq, CyTOF, and patient-derived organoids to unravel the complex genetic nature of early-stage thoracic malignancies and nuanced immunological landscapes that nurture the growth of these malignancies. The knowledge gained from these investigations is being used to identify novel therapeutic targets and therapies for patients with early-stage, yet deadly thoracic malignancies.

Dr. Kratz’s research is supported by a world-renowned leader in thoracic oncology, David Jablons, MD. Dr. Jablons is the Nan T. McEvoy Distinguished Professor of Thoracic Surgical Oncology, Ada Distinguished Professor of Thoracic Oncology, Program Leader in Thoracic Oncology, Director of the Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, and Chief of General Thoracic Surgery at UCSF. He is also the former chair of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer World Conference on Lung Cancer.