This is a Science Portrait of Prof. David B. Alexander, professor in the Nanotoxicology Project group of Nagoya City University. In this group, he works together with Prof. Hiroyuki Tsuda, who many years ago was a pathologist at Fujita Health University. I have known Prof. Alexander for more than eight years now, which has been a pleasure. Without exaggeration, my impression is that Prof. Alexander works harder than any researcher I know and that—which is very rare among researchers—he is not driven by ego but by a continuous desire to cure cancer. Because of his friendly character, he is very well-liked and I have experienced several times that if I mention his name that draws a happy smile on people’s faces. I am very honored that, next week Friday, he will give a presentation to the ICMS Journal Club. The contents of that presentation will be summarized in this blog afterward. I have asked him about his CV and his science, for which he provided the below information and the texts “Current Research Interests” and “Personal” in which he describes his current research and how he returned to science after originally choosing a very different path.
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
B.S. Biology, University of California at Berkeley
B.S. in Biology awarded in June 1976
M.S. Biology, California State University at Hayward
M.S. in Biology awarded in March 1989
Ph.D. Physiology, University of California at Berkeley
Ph.D. in Physiology awarded in December 1992
DISSERTATION: Effects of Glucocorticoids on an Autocrine Pathway in a
Mammary Adenocarcinoma Cell Line
RESEARCH AREAS: Molecular Biology; Mucosal Immunity; Tumor Cell Physiology;
Adenovirus based vectors
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
June 1992 – Feb 1994 Research Associate,
Laboratory of Prof. Martha Stampfer
Division of Cell and Molecular Biology
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
working with Prof. Martha Stampfer
March 1994 – Feb 2501 Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Molecular Oncology
Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine
working with Prof. Makoto Noda
Feb 2001 – March 2002 Instructor
Department of Molecular Oncology
Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine
working with Prof. Makoto Noda
Oct 2002 – Oct 2003 Research Associate
Department of Physiology & Biophysics
Stony Brook University, New York
working with Prof. Todd Miller
April 2004 – March 2009 Visiting Scientist
Department of Molecular Toxicology
Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences
working with Prof. Hiroyuki Tsuda
April 2009 – 2014 Visiting Scientist
Nanotoxicology Project
Nagoya City University
working with Prof. Hiroyuki Tsuda
April 2014 – 2021 Professor
Nanotoxicology Project
Nagoya City University
working with Prof. Hiroyuki Tsuda
Publications
Prof. Alexander published more than 50 articles among which the most prominent ones were in Cell (2001), Cancer Research (1993, 1993, 2004), Oncogene (2004, 2009) and Cancer Science (2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019).
(the following texts are written by Prof. Alexander)
Current Research Interests:
Most of my work deals with determining the carcinogenic potential of nanoparticles. That this field is extremely important is underlined by the consequences of the use of asbestos prior to the determination of its carcinogenic potential. One way in which exposure to nanoparticles could lead to carcinogenesis is induction of long-term inflammation. During inflammation oxygen radicals and cytokines are produced, and long-term inflammation increases the probability of these events leading to cancer.
I am also interested in using gene therapy for treating cancer. Currently I am working on methods of converting M2-like macrophages that support tumorigenesis into M1-like microbicidal macrophages that are not supportive, and which may even attack the tumor.
Finally, I am interested in CRISPR-mediated gene editing applied to Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. IBD would appear to be highly suitable for experimental CRISPR therapies as the target cells lie “outside” of the body and, consequently, these cells can be infected with CRISPR containing viruses administered via gastric gavage. We are currently using NOD2 knockout mice as a model of IBD.
Personal:
My parents were the driving force behind my going to college, and I attended UC Berkeley because they offered me a track scholarship. But, at that time I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. When I graduated, I still had no fixed future plans. I worked on a commercial fishing boat for a couple of years and then worked as a cross-country truck driver for about 10 years. It was during this time that I read a book called “If Only They Could Talk” (link added by JMD). This book crystallized my desire to “discover” treatments for disease. So, I began visiting college campuses throughout the US and settled on a small college in Hayward California as my choice to began my “new” life. I saved my money, sold my truck, and returned to school.
