Johanna A. Joyce, PhD

Founder, Organizer

Dr. Johanna A. Joyce is a prominent cancer biologist renowned for her research on the tumor microenvironment, particularly the role of immune cells in cancer progression and response to therapy. She currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Lausanne and is a Full Member of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Dr. Joyce earned her Bachelor of Arts in Genetics from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, in 1994, followed by a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Cambridge, England, in 1999. She conducted her doctoral

Following her Ph.D., Dr. Joyce pursued postdoctoral studies at the University of California, San Francisco, in the laboratory of Professor Douglas Hanahan. During this time, she investigated the role of proteases and immune cells in tumor development, laying the groundwork for her future research on the tumor microenvironment.

In 2004, Dr. Joyce joined the Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York as an Assistant Member, later advancing to Full Member. She also held professorships at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences during this period. In 2016, she transitioned to her current roles in Lausanne, where she continues to lead pioneering research.

Dr. Joyce's research has significantly advanced the understanding of how the tumor microenvironment influences cancer progression and therapeutic response. Her work on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) has been particularly influential, revealing how these immune cells can be reprogrammed to inhibit tumor growth. This concept of "re-educating" immune cells has opened new avenues for cancer therapy.

Throughout her career, Dr. Joyce has received numerous honors, including the Cloëtta Prize in 2018, election as a Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in 2017, and the Swiss Bridge Award the same year. She was also recognized with the Pandolfi Award for Women in Cancer Research by Harvard Medical School in 2017.

Dr. Joyce's contributions continue to shape the field of cancer biology, with ongoing research aimed at developing innovative therapeutic strategies that target the tumor microenvironment.

Joyce Lab

Publications

Dr. Johanna A. Joyce has made significant contributions to cancer research, particularly in understanding the tumor microenvironment. Here are four of her most prominent cancer-related publications:

Quail, D. F., & Joyce, J. A. (2013). Microenvironmental regulation of tumor progression and metastasis. Nature Medicine, 19(11), 1423–1437. This comprehensive review discusses how various components of the tumor microenvironment, including immune cells, fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix, influence cancer progression and metastasis.

Pyonteck, S. M., Akkari, L., Schuhmacher, A. J., Bowman, R. L., Sevenich, L., Quail, D. F., ... & Joyce, J. A. (2013). CSF-1R inhibition alters macrophage polarization and blocks glioma progression. Nature Medicine, 19(10), 1264–1272. This study demonstrates that inhibiting the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) can reprogram tumor-associated macrophages from a pro-tumor to an anti-tumor phenotype, thereby impeding glioma progression.

Quail, D. F., & Joyce, J. A. (2017). The microenvironmental landscape of brain tumors. Cancer Cell, 31(3), 326–341. In this article, the authors provide an in-depth analysis of the unique microenvironment of brain tumors, discussing how various cellular and molecular components contribute to tumor development and therapeutic resistance.

Olson, O. C., & Joyce, J. A. (2015). Cysteine cathepsin proteases: regulators of cancer progression and therapeutic response. Nature Reviews Cancer, 15(12), 712–729. This review highlights the role of cysteine cathepsin proteases in tumor progression and their potential as therapeutic targets in cancer treatment.

These publications underscore Dr. Joyce's pivotal role in elucidating the complex interactions within the tumor microenvironment and their implications for cancer therapy.

Education

Dr. Johanna A. Joyce completed her undergraduate studies at Trinity College Dublin. She then pursued her doctoral research at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the molecular genetic analysis of Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome, and earned her PhD in 1999. Following her PhD, Dr. Joyce undertook postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco, in Dr. Douglas Hanahan's laboratory.

Professional Activities

Dr. Johanna A. Joyce is a prominent cancer researcher whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of the tumor microenvironment and its role in cancer progression and metastasis.She currently serves as a Professor of Oncology at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and is a Full Member of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.

Dr. Joyce began her independent research career in 2005 at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York, where she established her laboratory to study tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their dual roles in either supporting tumor growth or targeting cancer cells.er groundbreaking research revealed that inhibiting the CSF-1 receptor in TAMs did not eliminate these cells but reprogrammed them to attack cancer cells, providing new insights into potential therapeutic strategies.

In 2016, Dr. Joyce transitioned to the University of Lausanne, where she continued her research on the tumor microenvironment, focusing on the complex interactions between cancer cells and surrounding stromal and immune cells.er work has been instrumental in uncovering how these interactions contribute to tumor progression and resistance to therapies.

Throughout her career, Dr. Joyce has received numerous awards and honors, including the Cloëtta Prize in 2018, recognizing her significant contributions to medical research.She was also elected as a Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in 2017 and as a Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy in 2024.

Beyond her research, Dr. Joyce is committed to mentorship and advocacy, particularly in supporting women in science.She has served in leadership roles such as the Chair of the AACR Tumor Microenvironment Working Group and as a Member of the AACR Women in Cancer Research Council, reflecting her dedication to advancing the field and fostering the next generation of cancer researchers.