Dr. Michael Simons graduated from the Yale School of Medicine with cum laude honors. Over his 30-year career, Dr. Michael Simons has served as a cardiovascular physician, researcher, and instructor.
In one of the cancer-related studies Dr. Simons led at Yale, researchers examined mice who had been genetically engineered to lack signaling in a certain family of growth factors (called an FGF) in the lining of their blood vessels. The study demonstrated that the FGF’s trigger the expression of a cancer-related gene called c-Myc. This discovery is important in the field of cancer research because it shows a previously unknown link between growth factors and cell metabolism.
The potential applications of these findings appear promising. In the next stage of research, scientists will look for ways to create therapies based on this new knowledge. For instance, researchers may develop and test drugs that block pathways for cancerous growth in vessels, or explore therapies that stimulate growth of beneficial vessels in patients with cardiovascular disease.
