Stan Gerson, MD, is the Dean and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he is the Asa and Patricia Shiverick–Jane Shiverick (Tripp) Professor of Hematological Oncology and Case Western Reserve University Distinguished University Professor. In 2012, he was the recipient of the Case Western Reserve Medal for Excellence in Health Science Innovation, the highest honor bestowed by the School of Medicine to those advancing research, education and health care. He is the past president of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (2016-2018) and a member of the American Association of Physicians since 1997, and has been a member and Chair of numerous NIH study sections, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Board of Scientific Advisors. He serves on the Executive Advisory Board of 11 NCI-designated cancer centers. He has earned multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and published more than 258 journal articles, 275 abstracts, 37 book chapters and 18 patents. Dr. Gerson has distinguished himself in a number of realms, including his research in DNA repair and stem cell therapy, which has resulted in numerous publications and patents. Three of his discoveries are in clinical trials as new cancer therapies. He is also the co-editor of the internationally recognized textbook, "Gene Therapy of Cancer Translational Approaches from Preclinical Studies to Clinical Implementation 3" (Elsevier Limited, Oxford, United Kingdom) and the textbook "Clinical Hematology." Dr. Gerson is foremost, a mentor and educator for the next generation of compassionate cancer research scientists and clinicians.
We investigate transgenic mice and carcinogenesis, retroviral gene therapy, DNA repair, hematopoietic stem cells, and adipogenesis.
Research Information
Research Interests
Dr. Gerson's research interests are in the areas of stem cells and DNA repair. In his stem cell research, he developed mesenchymal stem cells as a therapeutic infusion for blood stem cell transplantation and for the correction of genetic disorders. This therapy is approaching FDA approval. He identified a gene therapy strategy method that creates drug-resistant stem cells capable of selectively repopulating the recipient without the need for high dose toxic therapy. This strategy is now used experimentally and clinically throughout the country. In the area of DNA repair, he developed inhibitors of DNA repair to improve the efficacy of anti-cancer agents. Both are currently in clinical trials. Finally, Dr. Gerson has developed transgenic mouse models that examine the role of critical genes in the stability of stem cell populations over the lifetime of the animal. These studies may predict stem cell diseases of aging and cancer. His research has generated 12 patents in the area of gene therapy and cancer drug development that have been licensed to three companies.