Tobias Janowitz Appointed to Lead Cancer Research at Feinstein Institutes and Northwell Health
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has announced the appointment of Tobias Janowitz, MD, PhD, as director of its Institute of Cancer Research, marking a significant step in the organization’s efforts to expand cancer research and accelerate the development of new diagnostic and treatment approaches. In his expanded role, Janowitz will also serve as the Robert and Janet Perro Professor in Cancer Research and director of Translational Cancer Research at Northwell Health’s Cancer Institute.
The appointment brings together Janowitz’s clinical expertise, laboratory research experience and established scientific program at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). While taking on his new leadership responsibilities at the Feinstein Institutes and Northwell Health, Janowitz will continue to lead his research program at the CSHL Cancer Center and oversee the strategic affiliation between CSHL and Northwell.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen connections between basic science, translational research and clinical care, with the goal of moving discoveries from the laboratory into new cancer diagnostic tools, therapies and clinical strategies. Through closer cooperation between the two institutions, scientists and clinicians will have additional opportunities to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying cancer and translate those discoveries into approaches that can benefit patients.
Janowitz said he is honored to take on the responsibility of overseeing cancer research at Northwell and the Feinstein Institutes. He also emphasized the opportunity to bring CSHL and the Feinstein Institutes closer together and create stronger collaborations among scientists in the United States and internationally.
The new leadership role comes as Northwell Health continues to make cancer treatment and clinical research major priorities. The health system has been expanding its infrastructure for early-stage cancer research and increasing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical trials, while the Feinstein Institutes continues to develop research programs focused on understanding disease mechanisms and improving medical treatment.
More Than Two Decades of Cancer Research
Janowitz has spent more than 20 years studying the biological processes that influence cancer progression and treatment response. His research focuses on the interaction between metabolic, neuroendocrine and immune systems and how these interconnected pathways can influence the course of cancer.
Rather than examining tumors in isolation, Janowitz’s research takes a broader view of the disease and its effects throughout the body. His work has explored how the systemic stress created by tumors can alter energy metabolism, increase stress hormone levels and impair immune function.
These changes are particularly important in understanding cancer cachexia, a serious wasting syndrome that affects many people with advanced cancer. Cancer cachexia can involve substantial loss of muscle and body weight and can negatively affect patients’ strength, quality of life and ability to tolerate treatment.
Janowitz and his research team have investigated how the biological response to tumors contributes to this condition. Their work suggests that cancer progression and treatment response can be influenced by interconnected systemic processes involving metabolism, hormones and immunity.
As a gastrointestinal oncologist, Janowitz has sought to combine his research findings with clinical practice. His approach is based on the principle that effective cancer treatment should consider the entire patient and the biological systems affected by cancer, rather than focusing exclusively on the tumor itself.
His dual training as a physician and scientist gives him a perspective that spans both laboratory research and patient care. He holds an MD and PhD from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom and continues to care for patients while directing his research program.
Strengthening Collaboration Between CSHL and Northwell
One of the central elements of Janowitz’s expanded role will be his involvement in the strategic relationship between Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Northwell Health.
CSHL is recognized for its research in cancer biology and biomedical science, while Northwell provides a large clinical environment in which discoveries can potentially be translated into patient-focused research and treatment. Bringing these capabilities closer together could create new opportunities for scientists and clinicians to work collaboratively on cancer research.
The affiliation is expected to encourage greater interaction between laboratory investigators, translational scientists and physicians. Such collaboration can be particularly valuable in oncology, where advances in understanding tumor biology need to be translated into diagnostic methods, targeted treatments and clinical trials.
Janowitz said the partnership could bring together scientific leaders from both organizations along with collaborators from around the world. The long-term objective is to advance cancer diagnostics and treatment options for the millions of people affected by cancer.
Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research, praised Janowitz’s scientific contributions and said his leadership could help attract additional expertise to the organization.
The appointment is therefore expected to have implications beyond Janowitz’s individual research program. By taking on a leadership position within the Feinstein Institutes, he will have an opportunity to help shape broader cancer research priorities and encourage collaboration among investigators working across different disciplines.
Expanding Translational Cancer Research
The appointment of Janowitz as director of the Institute of Cancer Research comes as Northwell continues to expand its capabilities in cancer research and clinical care.
Translational research is a major component of this effort. The objective of translational cancer research is to connect discoveries made through basic laboratory research with practical applications for patients. This can include the development of new diagnostic technologies, therapeutic approaches, biomarkers and clinical strategies.
Janowitz’s research background is closely aligned with this model because his work examines fundamental mechanisms of cancer while maintaining a direct connection to patient care.
His research into metabolism, stress hormones and immune responses could contribute to a broader understanding of why patients respond differently to cancer and why certain systemic complications develop during the disease.
The Institute of Cancer Research can provide an environment for researchers from different scientific disciplines to investigate these questions and collaborate with clinicians involved in patient treatment and clinical trials.
Northwell Expands Access to Early-Phase Clinical Trials
Northwell Health has also been increasing its commitment to innovative cancer treatment through expanded clinical trial infrastructure.
In 2025, the health system introduced the Northwell-START New York-Long Island facility at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center. The center is an early-phase cancer clinical trial site and represents New York’s first START location.
The facility is part of the START network, which provides access to early-stage clinical trials for patients with cancer. The initiative builds on a partnership established in 2024 with the objective of bringing innovative clinical research opportunities closer to patients in their communities.
Early-phase clinical trials are an important part of cancer drug development because they allow researchers to evaluate new treatments and determine how promising therapies behave in patients before they progress to larger clinical studies.
By expanding access to these trials, Northwell aims to provide patients with additional opportunities to participate in research while supporting the development of new cancer therapies.
The combination of clinical trial infrastructure, laboratory research and translational science could provide a strong foundation for Northwell’s expanding cancer research strategy.
Leadership at Northwell Cancer Institute
Richard Barakat, MD, physician-in-chief and executive director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, senior vice president of cancer services and Edward and Carole Miller Distinguished Chair in Cancer, described Janowitz as an internationally recognized expert in cancer research.
Barakat said Janowitz’s appointment would strengthen Northwell’s Cancer Institute and further support the organization’s relationship with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
The collaboration provides an opportunity to connect the resources of a major healthcare system with those of a leading biomedical research institution. This type of partnership can help facilitate the movement of scientific discoveries into clinical research and, ultimately, patient care.
Janowitz’s continued clinical responsibilities are also expected to help maintain a direct connection between research and the needs of patients. His experience treating gastrointestinal cancer while conducting laboratory investigations provides him with insight into both the scientific and clinical challenges involved in cancer treatment.
Continued Leadership Across Cancer Research Programs
While Janowitz takes on his new responsibilities, Jeff Boyd, PhD, will continue serving in his existing leadership roles within Northwell’s cancer research organization.
Boyd will remain a professor in the Institute of Cancer Research and will continue as vice president, chief scientific officer and director of the Center for Genomic Medicine at Northwell’s Cancer Institute. He also serves as the Carol and Arnold Wolowitz Professor in Cancer Research.
The continued leadership of Boyd alongside Janowitz is expected to support the institute’s ongoing research programs, including work involving genomics and precision medicine.
Genomic research has become increasingly important in cancer care because molecular information can help researchers and physicians better understand tumor biology and identify potential treatment strategies. Combining genomic science with Janowitz’s work on metabolic, neuroendocrine and immune pathways could contribute to a more comprehensive approach to cancer research.
A Broader Vision for Cancer Treatment
Janowitz’s appointment reflects an increasingly integrated approach to cancer research in which laboratory discoveries, clinical expertise, translational science and patient care are closely connected.
His research into the systemic effects of cancer highlights the importance of looking beyond the tumor itself. Cancer can affect metabolism, immune function, hormonal signaling and overall physical condition, all of which can influence treatment outcomes.
By combining his roles at the Feinstein Institutes, Northwell Health and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Janowitz will be positioned to help advance research that considers these interconnected factors.
The strategic affiliation between CSHL and Northwell is also expected to provide opportunities for additional collaborations and scientific partnerships. Researchers from both institutions, along with external collaborators, may be able to leverage complementary expertise and resources to investigate difficult questions in cancer biology and treatment.
As Northwell continues to expand its cancer clinical trials and research infrastructure, the addition of Janowitz to its leadership team represents another investment in the organization’s long-term cancer strategy.
Ultimately, the goal is to translate scientific knowledge into meaningful advances for patients. Through expanded collaboration, advanced research programs and increased access to clinical trials, the Feinstein Institutes and Northwell Health aim to contribute to the development of better diagnostic and treatment options for people living with cancer. Janowitz’s combined role as a cancer researcher, physician and scientific leader is expected to play an important part in advancing that mission while strengthening the connection between Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s research expertise and Northwell’s clinical capabilities.
About the Feinstein Institutes
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the home of the research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50+ research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard of medical innovation through its six institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, molecular medicine, and translational research.
We are the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine – an innovative field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. The Feinstein Institutes publishes two open-access, international peer-reviewed journals Molecular Medicine and Bioelectronic Medicine. Through the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, we offer an accelerated PhD program.