Stephen Jackson (biologist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Stephen Jackson
Born	Stephen Philip Jackson (1962-07-17) 17 July 1962 (age 63) Nottingham, England
Alma mater	University of Leeds (BSc) Imperial College London (PhD) University of Edinburgh (PhD)
Known for	Understanding cellular responses to DNA damage and their relevance to cancer
Awards	EMBO member (1997) Fellow of the Royal Society (2008) FMedSci (2001) Buchanan Medal (2011) King Faisal International Prize (2016) Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize for Medicine (2016) Leopold Griffuel Prize (2019)
Scientific career
Fields	Cancer DNA repair Cell biology Molecular biology
Institutions	University of Cambridge University of California, Berkeley University of Edinburgh
Thesis	Cloning and characterisation of the RNA8 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1987)
Doctoral advisor	Jean Beggs

Sir Stephen Philip Jackson (born 17 July 1962) is a British scientist famous for his work on how our bodies fix damaged DNA. His discoveries have helped create new treatments for cancer. He is a professor and a top researcher at the University of Cambridge.

Early Life and Education

Stephen Jackson was born in Nottingham, England. He went to the University of Leeds and earned a degree in biochemistry in 1983. After that, he studied for his PhD at Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh, finishing in 1987.

For his next research project, he moved to the University of California, Berkeley in the United States. There, he became interested in how genes are turned on and off. In 1991, he returned to the UK to start his own research group at what is now the Gurdon Institute in Cambridge.

Unlocking the Secrets of DNA Repair

Imagine your DNA is a giant instruction book for your body. Sometimes, this book gets damaged, like a page getting ripped or a sentence being scrambled. This is called DNA damage. Jackson's work has helped us understand how our cells fix this damage.

How do cells fix broken DNA?

Jackson's lab discovered how cells repair serious breaks in our DNA. He found special proteins that act like a repair crew. One of the most important is an enzyme called DNA-PK. This enzyme rushes to the site of a DNA break and helps to glue the ends back together. This process is called non-homologous end joining.

His research also showed how other proteins, like ATM and ATR, act as alarm systems. They signal that there is damage so the repair crew can get to work. Jackson's work has shown how all these different parts work together to protect our DNA.

Why is DNA repair important for fighting cancer?

When the DNA repair system in our cells is broken, it can lead to diseases like cancer. Cancer cells often have faulty DNA repair, which allows them to grow out of control. Jackson's discoveries have been very important for understanding how cancer develops and how we can fight it.

From Lab to Lifesaving Medicines

Jackson wanted to use his scientific knowledge to help people. In 1997, he started a company called KuDOS Pharmaceuticals. The company's goal was to turn discoveries about DNA repair into new cancer treatments.

KuDOS developed a drug called Olaparib. This drug is a type of medicine known as a PARP inhibitor. It works by stopping cancer cells from being able to repair their own DNA. Since many cancer cells already have a weak repair system, this drug can destroy them while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Olaparib is now used around the world to treat certain types of cancer.

In 2005, the large drug company AstraZeneca bought KuDOS. Jackson has since started other companies, like MISSION Therapeutics and Adrestia Therapeutics, to continue developing new medicines.

Upholding Scientific Integrity

Science is a process of discovery, and it is very important that all research is honest and accurate. Sometimes, mistakes are found in published scientific papers.

In 2018, it was discovered that a former researcher in Jackson's lab had included false information in two papers. After an investigation, it was confirmed that the data was not real. Jackson was not involved in this misconduct. To correct the scientific record, the papers were retracted, or officially withdrawn, from the science journals in 2019.

In 2024, another paper from his lab was retracted for similar reasons involving a different researcher. This process shows how the scientific community works to correct errors and ensure that all published research is trustworthy.

Awards and Recognition

Sir Stephen Jackson has received many awards for his important work.

• He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2008, one of the highest honours for a scientist in the UK.
• He received the Royal Society Buchanan Medal in 2011 for his discoveries about DNA repair.
• In 2016, he won the Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize for Medicine for turning his research into new cancer drugs.
• In 2019, he was awarded the Leopold Griffuel Prize for his role in developing medicines that are now used to treat cancer.
• He was knighted by the Queen in 2023 for his services to innovation and research.