Paul Coffer studied Biochemistry at Oxford University and obtained his PhD from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in London, UK where he identified Protein Kinase B (PKB/AKT), a critical intracellular hub regulating multiple cellular processes. He then relocated to the Hubrecht Laboratory for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research. This postdoctoral research was involved in investigating the mechanisms by which hematopoietic cytokines can regulate gene expression through transcription factor phosphorylation.

In 1995 Paul moved to the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the University Medical Centre Utrecht to initiate his research group. During this period, work involved studying the role of intracellular signal transduction pathways in regulating both the production and function of leukocytes. Work in his group also demonstrated that PKB-mediated phosphorylation of Forkhead transcription factors (FOXO) was critical for the regulation of leukocyte proliferation and survival. These studies laid the groundwork for his further research into the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell-fate decisions.

In 2005 Paul Coffer was appointed Professor of Pediatric Immunology moving to the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (UMCU). During this time research was expanded to investigate the molecular mechanisms regulating mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) function and the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) as models of disease. Furthermore, studies investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying T-regulatory cell function were initiated.

In 2010 he moved to the UMC Utrecht Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM)as Professor of Cell Biology and  in 2013 worked at  Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York) for 14 months in Sasha Rudensky's Lab. 

Current research is driven by both fundamental and clinical questions intersecting the fields of tumor biology, immunology and regenerative medicine. This is focused on identifying pathways of cellular communication that can be exploited to selectively target cells in both cancer and (auto)immunity. This translational research applies a broad range of state-of-the-art molecular and cell biological approaches as well as in vivo and ex-vivo models of disease. 

Paul is currently chair of the Utrecht University Regenerative Medicine PhD program and Scientific Director of the Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht. 

http://www.cofferlab.science/

2019-  Board of trustees, World Wide Cancer Research

2016-Study Section member for both Fundamental and Translational applications for the Dutch Rheumatology Foundation (ReumaFonds; around 100 grant applications per year)

2016/2018 Study section member for the Swedish Research Council (SRC), consolidator grants for established investigators.

2016 Study section member for National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIAD), Immunology review branch.

2016 Advisory panel member and site visit for quinquennial review of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease Master’s program, Radboud University (Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

2014- Hubrecht Institute selection committee for new junior and senior principle investigators

2013-2018 Study section member for the Worldwide Cancer Research (WWCR/AICR; more than 800 international grant applications submitted each year)

2011/2014 Scientific Advisory Board Member and site visit, ViB Institute of Inflammation & Immunity (Ghent, Belgium).

2008- Committee member Dutch Society for Stem Cell Research (DSSCR) and chair 2010 & 2015

2011-2012 Study section member for Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) collaborative TOP grants for senior PIs and largest national project grant applications

2008 Site visit for Leukemia Research Foundation UK (Immunodiagnostics Unit, John Radcliff Hospital, Oxford)

2007 Study section member Portugese Foundation of Science & Technology (FCT)

2005-  Section Editor, Journal of Leukocyte Biology

Regular reviewer for journals: Nature, Science, Science Immunology, Nature Cell Biology, Nature Immunology, Nature Communications, Immunity, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Experimental Medicine, EMBO Journal, Blood, Oncogene, Molecular Cell Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Immunology.

Ad hoc reviewer of grants for: National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dutch Scientific Organisation (NWO), Dutch Cancer Foundation (KWF), Swedish Research Council (SRC); Cancer Research UK (CRUK), Wellcome Trust UK, BBRC UK, Leukemia Research Foundation (LRF), Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), Portugese Foundation of Science & Technology (FCT).