Mark A Nelson, PhD
Mark A. Nelson, Ph.D. is Professor of Pathology in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Tucson. He is also an Investigator in the Center for Toxicology, Professor in the Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, and a member of the Graduate Faculty. He earned his B.S. in Microbiology and Ph.D. in Pharmacology/Toxicology from Washington State University.
Dr. Nelson's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and progression, with an emphasis on epigenetics and genomic abnormalities, and the development of molecular diagnostics for cancer. His laboratory has pioneered the use of cell-free DNA methylation biomarkers for the early detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of cancer through minimally invasive liquid biopsy technologies.
He has authored more than 140 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has led numerous federally funded translational research programs that bridge laboratory discoveries with clinical applications. His work has advanced novel diagnostic approaches for multiple cancers, including pancreatic, brain, lung, and pleural malignancies, with the goal of improving early detection and patient outcomes.
Dr. Nelson is also the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Precision Epigenomics, a University of Arizona spinout company developing next-generation DNA methylation-based diagnostics for early cancer detection and precision oncology.
Degrees
- BS: Washington State University, 1984
- PhD: Washington State University, 1989
Fellowship
- Dr. Nelson performed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona Cancer under the late G. Tim Bowden, Ph.D. in molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis.
Teaching Interests
Dr. Nelson has extensive experience teaching graduate, medical, and undergraduate students in pathology, cancer biology, molecular genetics, pharmacology and toxicology. He currently teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in Pathology. In addition to classroom instruction, Dr. Nelson has mentored numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, and junior faculty, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia, medicine, and the biotechnology industry.
Research Interests
Dr. Nelson’s research focuses on three main areas: Inflammation and tumor progression/metastasis, Racial disparities and cancer, Molecular diagnosis of cancer and other genetic diseases