Dr. John Powers

Biography

John Powers is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Dell Medical School, working closely with the Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Oncology, and Livestrong Cancer Institutes. His research focuses on understanding the underlying genetic mechanisms that lead to pediatric neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that affects nerve tissue in young children. In the United States, neuroblastoma accounts for 6 percent of childhood cancers and has a poor prognosis, driven by the amplification of a gene known as MYCN. Powers' work aims to improve the understanding of how this gene becomes amplified and dysregulated, which contributes to neuroblastoma. He is an alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned both his undergraduate degree in Microbiology and his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. Prior to his current position, he worked as a Research Associate in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Research Interests