Associate Director, Biomedical Research, Novartis, Switzerland
Education 🎓
Jan Stephan Tchorz pursued his academic journey with fervor, culminating in a PhD in research physiology from the University of Basel, Switzerland, in 2010, under the mentorship of Prof. Bernhard Bettler. Prior to this, he completed his Master’s in Biology from MLU Halle, Germany, in 2006, with a focus on genetics and complex models. His academic achievements were honored with prestigious awards such as the Swiss Hepatology Prize in 2009 and the Kurt-Mothes Prize in 2006.
Experience 💼
Jan Stephan Tchorz has showcased remarkable expertise and leadership in various roles at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland. Starting as a research assistant, he progressed to become an Associate Director in Basic and Translational Liver Physiology & Gene Therapy. With over a decade of experience, he has led cross-functional international project teams, fostering collaborations between academia and industry. His contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Novartis Select Award and the Global Novartis 3R Award.
Research Interests 🧪
Jan Stephan Tchorz’s research interests revolve around cellular physiology, multicellular dynamics, and metabolism in the contexts of regeneration, maladaptive repair, and cancer. His focus includes disease profiling, drug target identification, and the development of complex cellular organoid models. With labs in Basel, Switzerland, and Cambridge, USA, he explores innovative pathways at the intersection of cellular and metabolic physiology, paving the way for advancements in regenerative medicine and cancer research.
Awards 🏆
Jan Stephan Tchorz’s exemplary contributions to the field have been acknowledged through various awards and honors. These include the prestigious Halloran Family Foundation Grant, Novartis Select Award, and multiple recognitions from renowned institutions such as the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). His dedication to scientific excellence is underscored by accolades like the Swiss Hepatology Prize and the Novartis 3R Award.
Publications Top Notes📚
Bipotent transitional progenitor cells contribute to liver regeneration (2023) – Published in Nature Genetics, this seminal work by Tchorz et al. investigates the role of transitional progenitor cells in liver regeneration.
Spatiotemporal metabolic liver zonation and consequences on pathophysiology (2023) – Martini et al., with Tchorz as a co-author, elucidate the spatiotemporal metabolic zonation in the liver and its implications on pathophysiology in the Annual Reviews of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease.
ZNRF3 and RNF43 cooperate to safeguard metabolic liver zonation and hepatocyte proliferation (2021) – Published in Cell Stem Cell, this study by Sun et al., featuring Tchorz as a corresponding author, delves into the cooperative role of ZNRF3 and RNF43 in maintaining metabolic liver zonation and regulating hepatocyte proliferation.
Genetic recording of cell proliferation reveals highly regional hepatocyte generation during liver homeostasis and regeneration (2021) – Tchorz et al., in collaboration with Zhou et al., present a groundbreaking study on genetic recording of hepatocyte proliferation in Science.
AXIN2+ Pericentral Hepatocytes Have Limited Contributions to Liver Homeostasis and Regeneration (2019) – Sun et al., led by Tchorz as a corresponding author, investigate the role of AXIN2+ pericentral hepatocytes in liver homeostasis and regeneration in Cell Stem Cell.