Profile: Professor John Mendelsohn

E-mail address: jan 1574-7891/$ – see fron doi:10.1016/j.molonc.2 Lessons learnt from Hurricane Ike last autumn are now guiding John Mendelsohn in his management of the largest US cancer institute in the current financial down turn. ‘‘We face critical financial pressures due to decreasing federal research support, cutbacks in Medicaid and Medicare, reduced philanthropic gifts, and increases in expenses for medically indigent patients,’’ says Mendelsohn, president of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. ‘‘We weathered the hurricane well, based on careful preparation and a spirit of dedication and teamwork when the storm arrived. It’s in the same spirit we’re planning to come through the adverse circumstances the nation now faces.’’ Mendelsohn is a rare animal, a clinician who has excelled in multiple careers of scientist, author and administrative leader. The key to such success, Mendelsohn advises young colleagues starting out on their careers, is not to attempt to do everything at the same time. ‘‘As my research gained ground I cut back on clinical work, then as my administrative responsibilities became more demanding I closed my lab,’’ he says. Mendelsohn was inspired to study molecular biology when he had the good fortune to be recruited to a research project in the laboratory of James Watson (of Watson and Crick/ double helix fame), while studying for his biochemistry bachelor’s degree at Harvard. ‘‘From Watson’s project on RNA metabolism I learnt how to do research in a critical and creative way, and was introduced to molecular biology, a field just starting to unfold,’’ says Mendelsohn, who went on to qualify in medicine and felt oncology provided the ‘‘best fit’’ with his research interests.