Michael F. Moran

Senior Scientist, Cell Biology

Affiliate Scientist, Princess Magaret Cancer Centre, University of Health Network

Dr. Moran completed his PhD in Biochemistry at the National Cancer Institute of Canada’s Cancer Research Laboratory at the University of Western Ontario.  He was an NCIC Fellow at Mount Sinai Hospital (1986-1990), and then joined the University of Toronto in 1990 in the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, and the Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics and was awarded tenure in 1995. He was an NCIC Scientist from 1991-97 and an MRC/Canadian Institutes for Health Research Investigator from 1997-2002.

Dr. Moran has served on various granting agency study sections related to cancer and consulted and collaborated with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the area of drug discovery.  Dr. Moran helped found the companies Ocata Proteomics and MDS Proteomics and served as Chief Scientific Officer.

Research

Dr. Moran’s research focus, publications, and invited seminars have addressed the intracellular signaling networks that control growth, survival, and spreading of tumours, and how drugs may be designed to target key components in these molecular networks.  His group uses proteomics technologies including mass spectrometry and bioinformatics to identify and characterize proteins activated in cancers, and to determine drug mechanisms of action.

Education and experience

• 2015–Present: Senior Scientist, Cell Biology Program, SickKids Research Insitute
• 2004–2015: Senior Scientist, Molecular Structure & Function Program, SickKids Research Institute
• 2004–Present: Scientific Director, SPARC BioCentre (nee APTC), SickKids Research Institute
• 1990–Present:  Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, and Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto
• 1987: PhD, Biochemistry, National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) Cancer Research Laboratory, University of Western Ontario
• 1982: B.Sc., Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario

Achievements

• 2018–Present: Chair, Canadian Cancer Society Advisory Council on Research (ACOR)
• 2016–2020: President and Chair, Board of Directors, Canadian National Proteomics Network (CNPN)
• 2012–2019: Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Biochemistry/Molecular Signatures
• 2005–2012: Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Biochemistry/Molecular Therapeutics

1. Karisch et al. (2011) Global proteomic assessment of the classical protein-tyrosine phosphatome and “redoxome”.  Cell 146: 826-840. 
2. Ernst et al. (2013) A general strategy for modulation of enzymes in the ubiquitinpathway. Science 339(6119): 590-5.  PMCID: PMC3815447
3. Li et al. (2014) Integrated Omic analysis of lung cancer reveals metabolism proteome signatures with prognostic impact.  Nature Communications 5:5469. 
4. Wang et al. (2017) Molecular heterogeneity of non-small cell lung carcinoma patient-derived xenografts closely reflect their primary tumors. Int. J. Cancer 140(3): 662-673
5. Wang et al. (2019) Somatic alterations burden involving non-cancer genes predicts prognosis in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Cancers 11(7). Pii: E1009.

See a full list of Michael F. Moran's publications