Prof. Leszek Kotula

Dr. Leszek Kotula, Associate Professor of Urology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, was born and educated in Poland. He received his M.D. degree from the Medical School in Lublin (1987), and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Wroclaw (2013), Poland. Upon immigrating to the United States Dr. Kotula did his postdoctoral training in molecular biology and genetics at the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology in Philadelphia, 1987-1992. In 1993 Dr. Kotula started his own lab at the New York State Institute for Basic Research, Staten Island, NY. Following positions at the New York Blood Center and SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Kotula joined Upstate Medical University in Syracuse in 2013 as Associate Professor with tenure upon his arrival. Dr. Kotula is currently Associate Director for Basic and Translational Program at Upstate Cancer Center.

Dr. Kotula’s research interests include mechanisms of tumor progression, genetics and biology of cancer. Dr. Kotula discovered human alpha spectrin spectrin gene and human spectrin SH3 domain binding protein gene (SSH3BP1, also known as ABI1) and identified its roles in macropinocytosis and in prostate cancer. Dr. Kotula’s research has been independently funded since 1995 by grants from the National Institutes of Health including NCI, NINDS and NIGMS, Department of Defense, American Heart Association, New York State Department of Health, and from several foundations, including the F.M. Kirby Foundation, NJ; Carol Baldwin Foundation, CNY; Joyce Curry Pancreatic Cancer Fund, NY and Upstate Foundation. Dr. Kotula published his research in high impact peer-review journals, such as PNAS, Nature Biotechnology, Journal of CIinical Investigations, Journal of Cell Science, Neoplasia, Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Molecular Oncology. Dr. Leszek Kotula also serves on as reviewer on the NIH-NCI and the CDMRP DoD Prostate Cancer Research Program review panels and is part of Editorial Board of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Cell Communication and Signaling and Cellular and Molecular Biology Letters. Dr. Kotula holds two patents (one on the ABL kinase regulation, and another one the genetic engineered ABI1 mouse model of prostate cancer). Dr. Kotula has discovered the gene signature in breast Ca that can predict metastatic potential of primary breast Ca. More recently his lab discovered a role of ABI1 in Androgen Receptor regulation and DNA binding, which paves the path for novel treatments in hormone-regulated cancers.

During his career Dr. Kotula performed various administrative and service functions. He served on the Board of Directors for the Research Foundation Mental Hygiene, was a Chair of the Institute Review Committee at the NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, and Co-Chair of the Institutional Review Board at the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute at the New York Blood Center, a member of Upstate Graduate Council, and Co-Director of the MD, PhD Program.