Michael Karin, PhD, a pioneering figure in the intersection of inflammation, metabolism, and cancer biology, has embarked on a transformative new chapter in his illustrious career by joining Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. As of June 30, 2025, Karin serves as the director of the newly established Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases. This move not only marks a major milestone for the institute but also heralds a significant advancement in the fight against chronic inflammation and its devastating consequences, including tumorigenesis and metabolic disorders.
Over the past four decades, Karin’s research journey has been deeply rooted in unraveling the complex molecular mechanisms through which inflammation—a normally protective, acute biological response—turns chronic and pathological. His work elucidates how prolonged, unrelenting inflammation disrupts cellular homeostasis and promotes the development of cancer. At Sanford Burnham Prebys, Karin aims to expand upon these breakthroughs, particularly focusing on metabolic and liver diseases that affect millions worldwide.
Karin’s expertise centers on the intricate signaling pathways that link inflammation to oncogenesis. He is credited with the groundbreaking discovery of the IKK-NF-κB and JNK-AP-1 pathways, two critical molecular cascades that orchestrate inflammatory responses. His seminal work demonstrates how aberrant activation of these pathways disables apoptosis, the programmed cell death process that normally limits uncontrolled cell growth. This evasion of apoptosis is a well-established hallmark of cancer, meaning that chronic inflammation effectively removes critical cellular safeguards and nudges cells toward malignant transformation.
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A key facet of Karin’s research trajectory focuses on the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family of cytokines. These signaling molecules, long known for their role in promoting inflammation and autoimmunity, have been shown by Karin to abnormally activate transcription factors that drive gene expression patterns advantageous to cancer development. Specifically, this overactivation contributes to colorectal, liver, and various other malignancies. Furthermore, Karin detailed the pivotal role of the IκB kinase (IKK) complex in facilitating cancer progression through its regulation of the NF-κB transcription factor, highlighting the dual roles of inflammation and immune modulation in tumor biology.
Throughout his career, Karin has been recognized by numerous prestigious awards that underscore the foundational impact of his research. He is a laureate of the AACR G.H.A. Clowes Award for Outstanding Basic Cancer Research and the William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology, among others. His election to esteemed scientific bodies including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, and the AACR Academy further cements his status as a towering figure in biomedical research.
The timing of Karin’s new leadership at the Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases is especially pertinent given the rising global health burden posed by metabolic syndromes. In the United States alone, approximately one-third of adults suffer from metabolic syndrome—a constellation of conditions that significantly increase the risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Complementing this, liver disease prevalence is staggering; an estimated 30% of U.S. adults have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and a subset of 5-10% progress to its severe form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). These conditions predispose patients to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and eventual organ failure, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapeutic strategies.
Under Karin’s stewardship, the center integrates seven laboratories with complementary expertise ranging from intracellular molecular signaling and translational metabolic research to human physiological studies and clinical trials. This multidisciplinary approach aims to decode the pathological processes that underpin metabolic liver diseases and to drive the innovation of novel therapeutics. Current treatment options for MASLD and MASH remain limited and largely ineffective, highlighting the transformative potential of Karin’s research agenda to impact patient outcomes on a broad scale.
Beyond his administrative role, Karin actively contributes to a major multimillion-dollar Program Project Grant awarded by the National Cancer Institute. This grant focuses on the mechanisms by which hypernutrition and metabolic stress promote the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-driven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Specifically, Karin investigates the transcription factor NRF2 and the gluconeogenic enzyme FBP1, both implicated in metabolic liver disease progression to liver cancer, positioning his work at the cutting edge of metabolic oncology.
Karin’s scholarly output is formidable, comprising hundreds of peer-reviewed publications published in esteemed journals such as Nature, Cell, Science, Cancer Cell, and Immunity. His research has been cited over 360,000 times, with an h-index of 284, reflecting both the breadth and impact of his contributions to science. Collaborative efforts with colleagues at Sanford Burnham Prebys and beyond amplify the translational potential of his discoveries, ensuring that his insights translate into clinical innovations.
The scientific community and healthcare ecosystem alike stand to benefit from Karin’s leadership as he navigates the complex, intertwined pathways of inflammation, metabolism, and cancer. By advancing mechanistic understanding and spearheading translational research, the newly minted Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases positions itself as a beacon of hope for tackling some of today’s most pressing and complex health challenges.
Karin’s vision is unequivocal: to develop interventions that can prevent the onset of MASLD and intercept its progression to severe liver disease and cancer. This goal aligns with a broader public health imperative to reduce healthcare costs and improve patient quality of life in the face of metabolic disorders—a burden that continues to escalate globally.
As Michael Karin takes the helm at Sanford Burnham Prebys, the intersection of metabolic dysfunction and oncology research is poised for unprecedented growth. His expertise in dissecting molecular signaling pathways that govern inflammation-mediated cancer biology stands to transform how the scientific community approaches metabolic and liver diseases, opening avenues for innovative therapies that address root causes rather than mere symptoms.
With this appointment, Sanford Burnham Prebys fortifies its status as a vanguard institution in biomedical research, attracting talent capable of bridging fundamental science with clinical application. The Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases under Karin’s guidance is ready to lead the charge towards new diagnostics, targeted treatments, and ultimately, better patient outcomes in the era of precision medicine.
Subject of Research: Chronic inflammation, metabolic and liver diseases, cancer biology, signaling pathways, metabolic syndrome, and therapeutic development.
Article Title: Michael Karin Takes Helm at Sanford Burnham Prebys to Tackle Chronic Inflammation and Metabolic Liver Disease
News Publication Date: June 30, 2025
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Image Credits: Sanford Burnham Prebys
Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Fatty liver disease, Steatohepatitis, Obesity, Metabolic disorders, Cancer research, Oncology, Liver cancer
Tags: cellular homeostasis disruptionchronic disease preventionchronic inflammation and cancerIKK-NF-κB pathway discoveryinflammation and metabolismJNK-AP-1 pathway researchmetabolic and liver diseasesMichael Karin cancer researchoncogenesis signaling pathwaysSanford Burnham Prebystransformative medical leadershiptumorigenesis mechanisms