Dr. John Powers

Biography

John Powers is an Assistant Professor at the Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, with expertise in pediatric research. He is a CPRIT Scholar and a double alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin, having received both his bachelor’s degree in microbiology and his doctorate in molecular genetics and microbiology. Powers completed his training at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, specializing in microRNA biology and cancer genetics. His research focuses on RNA biology and RNA-based therapeutics for pediatric neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer primarily affecting children under five. His lab aims to understand the genetic mechanisms that lead to neuroblastoma by examining RNA function and expression networks. Powers is also interested in developing personalized cancer vaccines to provide tailored therapeutic options for patients, particularly for those with cancers that lack widely available targeted therapies. He aims to improve the understanding of how genetic amplification and dysregulation contribute to pediatric neuroblastoma, particularly through the MYCN gene.

Research Interests

Experience