David Sabatini

David Sabatini was a pioneer in applying genome-wide CRISPR knockout screens to systematically identify cancer cell dependencies and essential genes, work that contributed to foundational datasets for the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) project. His laboratory mapped essential genes across hundreds of cancer cell lines, revealing context-specific dependencies driven by genetic backgrounds. He discovered the mTOR signaling pathway, one of the most frequently activated pathways in cancer, and elucidated its role as a central nutrient sensor regulating cell growth and metabolism. His CRISPR screen approaches identified numerous new cancer drug targets by revealing genes selectively essential in specific oncogenic contexts.