Research
Dr. Ramos is an expert on cancer signaling and metastasis. Historically, his lab focused on uncovering the underlying mechanisms driving cancer progression, with the goal of applying these insights to drug discovery and development. His research centered on brain, kidney, and skin cancers, and his team worked to develop drug leads aimed at blocking the growth and invasion of these tumors.
During his 30-year career in cancer research, Dr. Ramos has focused on determining how oncogenes activate an orchestrated metastasis program through signaling networks of proteins that alter adhesion. He has used the insights gained from new mechanistic understanding to target growth and metastasis processes with newly developed compounds. He holds two patents in this area and has published many high-impact papers.
Biography
Joe W. Ramos, PhD is President and CEO of The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, a leading nonprofit biomedical research organization that translates scientific discoveries into innovations that enhance human health, benefiting our community and the world. He assumed the role in early 2025.
Dr. Ramos brings more than 30 years of experience as a cancer researcher and research-enterprise leader. Prior to joining The Lundquist Institute, he served as Director and CEO of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center and concurrently as Director of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center in New Orleans. Earlier, he spent 18 years at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, including service as Interim Director, helping lead the center through two successful renewals of National Cancer Institute designation.
An internationally recognized expert in cancer signaling and metastasis, Dr. Ramos’s research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive tumor growth and spread and translating those insights into new therapeutic strategies. His work has concentrated on brain, kidney, and skin cancers, with multiple drug leads developed to block tumor growth and invasion. He holds two patents in this area and has published extensively in high-impact scientific journals.
Raised in a small town in Virginia, Dr. Ramos earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and PhD from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, completing postdoctoral training at The Scripps Research Institute.
As President and CEO, Dr. Ramos is driven by a passion for research that makes a difference in people’s lives. He works to assemble and lead formidable teams to advance innovative research, educate the next generation of scientists, and engage meaningfully with communities, all dedicated to addressing the unique needs of local populations.
Blog Posts
March 2025 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective
May 2025 | Charting the Future of The Lundquist Institute
June 2025 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective
August 2025 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective
November 2025 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective
December 2025 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective
January 2026 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective
February 2026 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective
May 2026 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective
June 2026 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective
July 2026 | On The Edge, The Executive Perspective