Bert Vogelstein

Bert Vogelstein established the multistep model of colorectal carcinogenesis showing that cancer develops through the sequential accumulation of driver mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes including APC, KRAS, and p53, providing the molecular framework for understanding cancer evolution as a stepwise process of genetic alteration and clonal selection. His laboratory at Johns Hopkins has been at the forefront of cancer genome sequencing, identifying the landscape of genetic alterations across multiple cancer types. His work has defined the genetic rules of cancer evolution and has led directly to the development of molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies used worldwide.