After his groundbreaking work in cellular senescence, Dr Van Deursen moved on to work for a publicly traded biotechnology company called Unity Biotechnology. This company is developing compounds that combat the effects of ageing by eliminating senescent cells. Unity Biotechnology is also investigating other underlying causes of ageing and is developing therapies based on these findings. His research will help scientists find a better way to fight age-related diseases and slow down the ageing process.
In 1999, Jan Van Deursen joined the Mayo Clinic. He was recruited after developing a mouse gene knockout core facility. His research program focuses on aneuploidy’s role in cancer and ageing’s molecular mechanisms. His studies have been published in the world’s leading scientific journals. While at the Mayo Clinic, Jan Van Deursen is responsible for discovering a gene called rasG-Foxo1.
Although a biochemist by training, Jan Van Deursen mentors dozens of young researchers and hopes to become a principal investigator. His work has made Dr Childs a successful physician-scientist, and she credits Jan Van Deursen with helping her to achieve this goal. In her own words, she influenced her life through his research. You can read his biochemistry biographyh to learn more about his life and career.
As chair of the department of biochemistry at the Mayo Clinic, Jan Van Deursen championed diversity in his department. Five of six tenure-track positions were filled by candidates from diverse backgrounds. His support for non-tenure-track faculty was exceptional. He worked with leadership at the Mayo Clinic to improve mentoring programs and institutional support for non-tenure track faculty. Throughout his career, his research lab remained diverse.
After earning his PhD in cell biology from the University of Nijmegen, Dr Van Deursen began a career at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1999, he joined the Mayo Clinic and established a curiosity-driven research program. During that time, he was appointed head of the transgenic and gene knockout core facility and was chair of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department.
His latest breakthrough was published in Science and Nature in 2016. The study showed that mice genetically engineered to kill senescent cells had fewer plaques in their major arteries than mice that had not been treated with the new treatment. In fact, the researchers reported that the results were so encouraging that Science magazine named the research a breakthrough. Dr. van Deursen’s research ranked fifth among the top 10 breakthroughs in science in 2016.
His research in cell biology focused on the role of a protein called BubR1 during mitosis. BubR1 is essential for faithful chromosome segregation and is causally implicated in various human diseases, including cancer, progeria, and ageing. In June this year, Jan Van Deursen was offered a contract worth $27,000 monthly at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. van Deursen came to the Mayo Clinic after earning his doctorate in cell biology. His work with mice was first aimed at treating childhood cancers. Later, he focused on senescent cells, which degrade organ and tissue function. His studies on mice also helped scientists understand ageing. This research has implications for both cancer treatment and prevention. His research findings are a major advance in the fight against ageing and cancer.
