Jason Stumpff, Ph.D., Named Juckett Faculty Scholar at UVM Cancer Center

The University of Vermont Cancer Center (UVMCC) is proud to announce the appointment of Jason Stumpff, Ph.D., as a Juckett Faculty Scholar. This is a distinguished faculty honor recognizing exceptional cancer researchers whose work meaningfully advances the center’s mission. 

Supported by the J. Walter Juckett Foundation, the Juckett Faculty Scholar honors established UVM Cancer Center members who demonstrate excellence in fundamental, translational, population-based, or clinical research.   

Decoding an Unusual Protein 

Stumpff is a professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at the Larner College of Medicine and Co-Leader of the Cancer & Host Interactions Research Program within UVM Cancer Center. He and his research team explore one of biology’s most fundamental processes – cell division – and its connection to human disease. 

Stumpff focuses on a protein called KIF18A, a molecular motor that helps ensure chromosomes are organized and positioned correctly when cells divide. While healthy cells can often divide without it, some cancers (like triple-negative breast cancer and high-grade serous ovarian cancer) depend on KIF18A to survive and multiply. When the protein is removed, those cancer cells can no longer divide properly, slowing tumor growth and, in the most sensitive cases, triggering cell death. 

Discoveries around KIF18A have fueled the development of a promising new class of KIF18A-inhibiting drugs that appear to be far less toxic than many conventional cancer therapies. Yet not all tumors are-dependent on KIF18A, resulting in varying responses to anti-KIF18A drugs. Stumpff and his team are working to answer a critical question: Why do some tumors respond dramatically to these drugs while others do not?

Using large-scale genetic and molecular screening approaches, the researchers are hunting for the biological features that make certain cancers vulnerable to KIF18A inhibition. Their goal is to identify biomarkers that can predict which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment and uncover additional targets that could make resistant tumors more responsive. This work has placed Stumpff at the forefront of collaborations with industry partners developing KIF18A-targeted therapies, where his expertise helps bridge the gap between basic biology and clinical application. As these drugs move through clinical trials, understanding who is most likely to respond will be essential to realizing their full potential.

Guided by Mentors, Grounded by Patients

Stumpff's commitment to clinically meaningful research was shaped early in his career at UVM Cancer Center. Working alongside oncologists, including longtime mentor Marie Wood, M.D., he gained a firsthand appreciation for the urgent challenges facing patients and clinicians. Wood encouraged him to pursue funding through the Susan G. Komen Foundation and helped him frame research questions around pressing clinical needs, such as developing less toxic approaches for treating triple-negative breast cancer. 

Equally influential were the patient advocates who reviewed his grant proposals and offered perspectives that extended beyond the laboratory. "Patient advocates, like Carol Vallett and Marion Thurnauer, reminded me that every experiment ultimately connects back to people and families waiting for better options," Stumpff said. "Their feedback helped me think differently about how to communicate the value of fundamental cancer research and keep the focus on the patients we hope to help." 

Says UVMCC Director Randall Holcombe, MD, MBA: "Jason's work demonstrates why foundational research is so important. He asks fundamental questions about how cancer cells function, but he never loses sight of the patients who stand to benefit from those discoveries. The Juckett Faculty Scholar Award celebrates researchers who combine scientific excellence with real-world impact, and Jason exemplifies that vision."

About the Juckett Faculty Scholar Award

The Juckett Faculty Scholar award is designed to bolster the impact of UVM Cancer Center’s most accomplished investigators. By providing a mix of salary and flexible research support, the award fosters innovation, accelerates discovery, and strengthens the center’s scientific infrastructure. The program reflects the longstanding partnership between UVM Cancer Center and the J. Walter Juckett Foundation, an organization committed to improving health and advancing cancer research in the region. Awardees must be full-time University of Vermont faculty and active contributors to UVM Cancer Center’s scientific community. The Juckett Faculty Scholar is selected by the UVM Cancer Center director, in collaboration with representatives of the J. Walter Juckett Foundation board of directors. The award provides $150,000 per year for two years in research support, with funding beginning July 1, 2026.