Dr. Tak Mak is the Director of the Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and a University Professor in the Departments of Medical Biophysics and Immunology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mak is best known as the lead scientist of the group that first cloned the genes encoding the human T cell antigen receptor, a discovery that provided essential insights into the molecular basis of cellular immunity. Dr. Mak’s current research is focussed on immune system cell functions and regulation, and the role of inflammation and neural regulation in the progression of autoimmune diseases and cancer. He is particularly interested in the molecular pathways underlying the survival, proliferation and death of normal and malignant cells. Currently, he is investigating the mechanisms of metabolic transformation used by cancer cells to fuel their uncontrolled growth, with the goal of identifying potential targets for novel cancer therapeutics. ​