Frank Fitzpatrick, PhD, is an investigator at Huntsman Cancer Institute, first holder of the Dee Glen and Ida W. Smith Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, and professor of oncological sciences and medicinal chemistry at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He works to understand why persistent inflammation is a risk factor for certain types of cancer. He has authored more than 125 publications on inflammation, thrombosis, and cancer in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals.

Nature uses inflammatory cells to kill harmful micro-organisms, thus benefiting the host. However, when the inflammation last for many years such as with colitis or pancreatitis more harm than good results. This harm can include increased cancer risk. The Fitzpatrick Lab concentrates on answering two questions: What are the molecular events associated with inflammation that cause cancer, and can effective preventions for cancer be developed by treating the underlying risk factor of inflammation? The group is moving into intervention and prevention trials designed to help patients with chronic colitis and pancreatitis alleviate their disease and lower their risk of colon cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Fitzpatrick earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Villanova University in 1969 and a PhD in analytical chemistry from the University of Massachusetts in 1972.He went to work for the former Upjohn Company in 1974, eventually serving as director of cell biology and inflammation and vice president for discovery research and receiving the Upjohn Award for outstanding work in 1984. From 1987 to 1994, he was professor of pharmacology at the University of Colorado, where he was recognized twice with the Kaiser Permanente Award for Best Basic Science Teacher in the School of Medicine. During a year spent on sabbatical at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, he worked with Nobel Laureate Bengt Samuelsson. He has served as associate editor for several research publications, including Journal of Biological Chemistry. Fitzpatrick served as senior director for research and development from 1999 to 2001 and senior director of translational research from 2001 to 2003 at Huntsman Cancer Institute.