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\title{I'm Denis Wirtz, Vice Provost for Research and professor of chemical and
biomolecular engineering, materials science, pathology \& oncology at
Johns Hopkins University. AMA!}



\author[1]{Denis_Wirtz }%
\author[1]{r/Science AMAs}%
\affil[1]{Affiliation not available}%


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  \date{April 24, 2026}


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\begin{abstract}
Hi Reddit! I am Denis Wirtz of Johns Hopkins University, where I wear
two hats: Vice Provost for Research and T.H. Smoot Professor in the
schools of engineering and medicine. I also direct the Johns Hopkins
Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and co-direct the Cancer
Nanotechnology Training Center, both funded by the National Cancer
Institute, and serve as associate director of the Johns Hopkins
Institute for NanoBioTechnology. As a faculty member, my lab conducts
research in cancer: specifically, we are trying to determine the
physical and biological underpinnings of metastatic disease, by far the
primary cause of death in cancer patients. For example, my group was the
first to establish how a 3-dimensional environment (think a 3D matrix)
fundamentally affects the way cancer cells migrate, providing us with
much more biologically and medically-relevant information than 2D
studies (think Petri dishes) routinely used in the lab. Subsequent
studies of the tumor microenvironment in simplified systems have
increased our understanding of how cancer cells (we focus on pancreatic,
breast, and ovarian cancer) migrate, morph, and are modulated by
mechanical forces during metastasis. Our research has led me to
re-evaluate what makes cancer lethal, often drug-resistant, and prone to
recurrence after tumor removal. In the future, I am proposing a paradigm
shift on how to diagnose tumors and develop new drugs, complementing the
more mainstream genetic approaches. This is pertinent to US investments
(biotech, big pharma, and federal agencies) in cancer treatments. In my
other role as VP for Research, I work with my divisional colleagues to
oversee all research at Johns Hopkins University, the largest recipient
of federal funding in the US. In that capacity, I direct the Bloomberg
Distinguished Professorships, the President's Frontier Award, research
development, interdivisional research awards programs, improvements in
research infrastructure, compliance and policies, etc. I have been
particularly eager to help junior faculty (due to the current funding
environment) and to promote collaborative, multidisciplinary research.
I'm excited to speak with you about all things cancer and research! I
will begin answering questions at 1 pm ET (10 am PT, 6 pm UTC). Ask me
anything! Links: My lab: http://wirtzlab.johnshopkins.edu/ VPR Profile:
http://web.jhu.edu/administration/provost/bios/wirtz Faculty Profile:
http://engineering.jhu.edu/chembe/faculty/denis-wirtz/ Publications:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UJP\_JHEAAAAJ\&hl=en EDIT: I
am signing off now. Thank you everyone for all your great questions. I
look forward to doing this again.%
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