Expertise and Research Interests

Members of Dr. Hockenbery's laboratory study the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in a variety of experimental systems. Normal cell death occurring during development and following terminal differentiation has typical morphologic and biochemical features collectively termed apoptosis. The precise control of these events is obviously of great importance to the organism, and many model systems have demonstrated the requirement for active RNA and protein synthesis for cell death to proceed, suggesting an internally programmed process. One regulator of this process is the bcl-2 oncogene, which blocks apoptosis in vitro and in vivo and appears to normally control the timing of cell death in many cell lineages.

Currently Active Projects:

• Investigation of the mitochondrial functions of the Bcl-2 family of apoptotic regulatory proteins. Recent efforts have led to the discovery of novel small molecules that inhibit Bcl-2 and related proteins.
• Structure-function analysis of Bcl-xL homodimers, with recent demonstration of x-ray crystal structure of 3D domain swapped dimers.
• Analysis of mitochondrial proteomics and mitochondrial assembly in apoptosis, with a focus on the effects of Hsp90 inhibitors on mitochondrial protein turnover.
• Investigation of the role of the c-myc transcription factor in bioenergetic regulation in different cell contexts, including cell growth and division, neoplastic transformation and apoptosis.
• Analysis of cell signaling and transcriptional responses to nutrient excess, in particular glucose sensing mechanisms employed in cells susceptible to neoplastic transformation.

Education

• 1978, B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
• 1982, M.D. in Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Positions and Honors

• 1982 - 1985, Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
• 1985 - 1986, Assistant Chief of Service (Chief Resident), Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
• 1986 - 1988, Fellow in Gastroenterology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
• 1988 - 1992, Post-docotral Research Fellow, Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
• 1992 - 1998, Assistant Professor, Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
• 1992 - 1998, Assistant Professor, Program in Molecular Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
• 1994 - 1998, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• 1998 - 2004, Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
• 1999 - 2004, Associate Professor, Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
• 1998 - 2005, Associate Professor in Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• 2004 - Present, Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
• 2004 - Present, Professor, Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
• 2005 - Present, Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• 2010 - Present, Program Head, Gastroenterology Section, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
• 2012 – Present, Professor, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
• 2014 – Present, Director, Procedure Suite, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA

Hospital Positions

• 1993 - 2002 Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA
• 1994 - 2008 VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA
• 1994 - 2008 Providence Medical Center, Seattle, WA
• 1994 - 2008 Pacific Medical Center, Seattle, WA
• 1994 - 2008 Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
• 1994 - Present University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• 2001 - Present Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA

Honors

• 1974 - 1978 Wilson Scholar, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
• 1991, Lucille P. Markey Scholar Award
• 2002, American Society of Clinical Investigation

Board Certification

• 1984, American Board of Internal Medicine
• 1989, American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Subspecialty Board

Professional Organizations

• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Society of Clinical Investigation
• American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Editorial Responsibilities

• 1994 - 1999, Editorial Board, Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy
• 1997 - Present, Editorial Board, Molecular Biology of the Cell
• 2003 - Present, Associate Editor, American Journal of Pathology

Special National/International Responsibilities

• 1993, Banbury conference "Apoptotic Cell Death: Function and Mechanisms", Cold Spring Harbor, Co-Chair
• 1995 - Present, American Cancer Society Cell Cycle and Growth Control Advisory Committee, Member
• 1994 - 1997, NIH/NCI Program Project Review Panel Member
• 1996, NCI-Canada Program Project Review Panel Member
• 1997, NIH/NCI IRG Subcommittee, Ad-hoc Member
• 2001, NIH/NCI, Molecular Targets for Drug Discovery in Cancer, Review Panel Member
• 2002, EORTC/NCI/ACS Meeting, Frankfort, Germany, Session Chair
• 2005 – 2009, NIH/NCI, Scientific Reviewer, Tumor Cell Biology Study Section
• 2010 – Present, NIH/NCI, Adhoc Reviewer, Assorted Study Sections
• 2010 – Present, DOD, Adhoc Reviewer, Breast Cancer Research Program Study Section

Administrative Local Responsibilities

• 1995 - 1997, Flow Users Committee, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• 1995 - Present, Assistant Chief in Scientific Affairs, University of Washington Division of Gastroenterology
• 1997 - 1999, Instrumentation Committee, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• 1998 - 2000, Animal Users Committee, Committee Head, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• 2003 - 2006, Appointments and Promotions Committee, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• 2010 – Present, Head of Gastroenterology Services, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
• 2014 – Present, Director, Procedure Suite, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
• 2014 – Present, Co-PI, Interdisciplinary Training Grant, University of Washington/Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center