In his new role, Lam oversees the work of more than 60 scientists with research grants and contracts totaling nearly $11 million annually. The department is focused on uncovering the biochemical, biophysical, molecular and cellular foundations of disease — from cancer to diabetes to fragile X syndrome. As chair, he leverages the vast expertise of the department to improve drug development and other treatments for a wide range of illnesses and to foster partnerships to speed discoveries in stem cell science, neuroscience, biophotonics and cardiovascular health.
"Dr. Lam is an inventive and determined physician-scientist who is known for uniting the research talent it takes to quickly move discoveries in the lab to improvements in patient care," said Claire Pomeroy, vice chancellor for human health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine at UC Davis. "His ability to foster an environment of collaboration and academic excellence, in addition to the quality of his own investigations, uniquely qualifies him to oversee the dynamic department he now leads."
Since 1999, Lam has been a professor of medicine, practicing oncologist and chief of hematology and oncology at UC Davis, where he is distinguished for revolutionizing cancer diagnosis and treatment. He is acclaimed for his pioneering role in the field of combinatorial chemistry and developing the novel one-bead-one-compound technology, which rapidly screens millions of chemicals at one time to identify those that bind to diseased cells. The tool is advancing the early detection and precise delivery of treatments for brain, breast, prostate, pancreatic, lymphoma and other cancers. In addition, it is advancing the discovery of imaging agents that produce highly detailed molecular profiles of diseases for improved diagnosis and tracking medication effectiveness.
"I came to UC Davis because of its proven strengths in scientific discovery and cross-departmental commitment to improving the quality of life for patients," said Lam. "I am fortunate to now be leading a department that exemplifies the very best of UC Davis in the basic sciences."
In addition to expanding the use of one-bead-one-compound technology, Lam's research projects include developing a blood test for ovarian-cancer detection, utilizing nanoparticle carriers for drug delivery and synthesizing cancer-fighting molecules with less-toxic side effects. His expertise has been extensively sought by other scientists, and he is currently collaborating on projects to identify the molecular pathogenesis of and treatments for primary biliary cirrhosis, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease.
Lam earned his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin and his medical degree from Stanford University. He completed his residency and a clinical fellowship at the University of Arizona, where he also began his medical career. He is the author of 240 peer-reviewed journal articles. A founding scientist of the Selectide Corporation, which is one of the first start-up companies to specialize in combinatorial chemistry, Lam holds 14 patents for technologies related to one-bead-one-compound combinatorial libraries, cancer-targeting molecules and oligosaccharide profiling of cancer. He received the Cathay Award in 1998 and the Combinatorial Science Award in 2007. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America named him Leukemia Scholar in 1992 and Stohlman Scholar in 1997.
As chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Lam receives an annual base salary of $196,600. Additional information about his compensation is available upon request.
The UC Davis School of Medicine is among the nation's leading medical schools, recognized for its specialty- and primary-care programs. The school offers fully accredited master's degree programs in public health and in informatics, and its combined M.D.-Ph.D. program is training the next generation of physician-scientists to conduct high-impact research and translate discoveries into better clinical care. Along with being a recognized leader in medical research, the school is committed to serving underserved communities and advancing rural health. For further information, visit the UC Davis School of Medicine website.