Igor Stagljar

Professor Igor Stagljar’s career has been defined by a relentless pursuit of the molecular mechanisms governing cellular health and disease. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from ETH Zurich, where he trained under Markus Aebi and Charles Weissmann, followed by pivotal postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Zurich with Walter Schaffner and Ulrich Huebscher, focusing on the complexities of RNA transcription and DNA repair.

A transformative period as a research fellow with Stan Fields at the University of Washington—the pioneer of yeast two-hybrid technology—solidified Igor’s trajectory as a master of protein-protein interaction (PPI) technologies. After serving as an Assistant Professor at the University of Zurich (2002–2005), he joined the University of Toronto, rising to the rank of Professor in 2010. Today, his lab stands as a global leader in proteomics and a prolific innovator at the intersection of chemical genomics and drug discovery.

Research Overview: Disrupting the "Undruggable" Proteome

The Stagljar Lab operates at the vanguard of proteomics, specializing in the creation of high-throughput technologies that decode the complex social networks of human membrane proteins. We are widely recognized for inventing the Membrane Yeast Two-Hybrid (MYTH) and Mammalian Membrane Two-Hybrid (MaMTH) systems—technologies that have become global benchmarks for studying membrane protein interactions in their native cellular environments.

As a disruptor in the field, our lab has expanded these foundations into a robust drug-screening ecosystem (MaMTH-DS, SIMPL/SIMPL2, and CLIP-LUX). These platforms enable us to visualize and quantify protein interactions in real-time, providing a powerful lens through which to identify therapeutics for previously "undruggable" cancer targets. Since June 2025, Professor Stagljar has also steered the international scientific conversation as the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of the Elsevier journal, Disease and Therapeutics.

Current Research Frontiers

1. AI & Quantum-Driven Drug Discovery
In a landmark collaboration with Alán Aspuru-Guzik and Insilico Medicine, we are revolutionizing how medicine is found. By integrating generative AI and quantum computing with our proprietary MaMTH, SIMPL2 and CLIP-LUX platforms (as seen in Nature Biotechnology, 2025), we have built an automated pipeline to rapidly identify small molecules targeting "hard-to-drug" proteins like KRAS mutants, ubiquitin ligases, and RTKs.

2. Next-Gen Degraders: PROTACs and Molecular Glues
Using our SIMPL2 and CLIP-LUX live-cell platforms, we are mapping the real-time dynamics of protein degradation. These systems are uniquely optimized for high-throughput discovery of PROTACs and molecular glues, targeting the essential protein-protein interactions that drive cancer progression.

3. Mapping the Human Cancer Membrane Proteome (HCMP)
We are currently leading an ambitious effort to map the global interactome of every major cancer-associated membrane protein. This "Human Cancer Membrane Proteome" project utilizes our MaMTH-HTS system to uncover the hidden functional pathways that fuel malignancy, providing a blueprint for the next generation of precision medicine.

4. Decoding Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Our lab is conducting a massive exploration of the CFTR interactome. By screening over 400 Solute Carrier (SLC) transporters against wild-type and ΔF508-CFTR, we have identified "modifier" targets that regulate pH and ion balance. These findings offer a new therapeutic framework for restoring lung function in CF patients.

5. Translational Impact & Global Partnerships
Our science is built for real-world impact. Through deep-rooted collaborations with industry giants—including Genentech, Novartis, Amgen, Merck, Insilico Medicine, and Pfizer—we bridge the gap between basic biochemical discovery and the accelerated delivery of life-saving drugs.