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.