Steven D. Leach, M.D. Steven D. Leach is the Paul K. Neumann Professor in Pancreatic Cancer, Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology, and Director of Research in the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Leach received his undergraduate degree in Biology at Princeton University, followed by his M.D. degree at Emory. He subsequently completed training in Surgery and Cell Biology at Yale, as well as a fellowship in Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Leach directs an NIH-funded research program focused on epithelial differentiation in exocrine pancreas, using both mouse and zebrafish model systems. This work is based on the general hypothesis that pancreatic cancer may be initiated by characteristic changes in epithelial differentiation. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms regulating exocrine differentiation in developing pancreas, Dr. Leach's lab has provided important new insights regarding abnormal differentiation events occurring during pancreatic tumorigenesis. His work has demonstrated critical links between early forms of pancreatic cancer and the epithelium of the embryonic pancreas, providing exciting new strategies for disease detection and chemoprevention.
- University Appointments:
- Professor of Surgery, Oncology, Cell Biology, and Cellular and Molecular Medicine
The Paul K. Neumann Professor in Pancreatic Cancer
Vice Chairman for Academic Affairs, Department of Surgery
- Degrees:
- 1982 A.B. Biology, Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
1986 M.D. Medicine, Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
- Training:
- 1986-1993 Resident in General Surgery, Yale University (New Haven, CT)
1988-1990 Fellowship in Cell Biology, Yale University (New Haven, CT)
1993-1995 Fellowship in Surgical Oncology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX)
- Board Certifications and Certificates:
- American Board of General Surgery
Society of Surgical Oncology Fellowship Certificate
- Clinical Interests:
- Tumors and disease of the pancreas
- Research Interests:
- Pancreatic Stem Cells
Zebrafish Models of Pancreas Cancer
Dr. Leach can be contacted at the following address:
600 N. Wolfe StreetSelected References
Osler Building, Room 603
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-955-5765
Fax: 410-614-2913
E-mail: stleach@jhmi.edu
- Miyamoto Y, et al. Notch mediates TGFa-induced changes in epithelial differentiation during pancreatic tumorigenesis. Cancer Cell 3:565-576, 2003.
- Esni F, et al. Origin of exocrine pancreatic cells from nestin-positive precursors in developing mouse pancreas. Mechanisms of Development, 121:15-25, 2004.
- Lin JW, et al. Differential requirement for ptf1a in endocrine and exocrine lineages of developing zebrafish pancreas. Developmental Biology 270: 474-486, 2004.
- Esni R, et al. Notch inhibits PTF1 function and acinar cell differentiation in developing mouse and zebrafish pancreas. Development 131: 4213-4224, 2004.