David Largaespada, PhD

Chairman & Founder

Dr. Largaespada’s laboratory is working to exploit insertional mutagenesis, and other functional genomics methods (e.g. CRISPR/Cas9) to identify and understand genes and pathways that govern cancer cell behavior. The Largaespada lab pioneered the use of a vertebrate-active transposon system, called Sleeping Beauty (SB), for insertional mutagenesis in mouse somatic cells.

SB is being used as a tool for forward genetic screens for cancer genes involved in sarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and mammary, gastro-intestinal tract and NF1 syndrome-associated nervous system cancers. A special emphasis of this work is on genes that promote metastasis or govern treatment sensitivity. Also, novel mouse models are being used for preclinical evaluation of new drugs and drug combinations for cancer treatment.

• Professor, Department of Pediatrics; Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota
• Associate Director for Basic Sciences, Masonic Cancer Center (MCC)
• Director, Brain Tumor Program, Masonic Cancer Center (MCC)
• Adjunct Pharmaceutics Faculty, Department of Pharmaceutics
• Advising Faculty, Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology (MICaB) Ph.D. Graduate Program
• Advising Faculty, Graduate Program in Neuroscience
• Faculty Member, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology