Stratton's research interests[21] are in the area of genetics of cancer. In 1994, he assembled a research group that localisedBRCA2,[22][23][24][25][26] a major breast cancer susceptibility gene that repairs chromosomal damage, tochromosome 13.[27] The following year his team identified the gene and, in doing so generated a megabase segment of high-quality human genome sequence.[28][29] His subsequent work has involved the identification of more moderate cancer susceptibility genes such asCHEK2,[30]ATM[31] andPALB2[32] each of which play a role in some breast cancers. He has additionally identified genes implicated in the development of skin, testis, colorectal and thyroid cancers,Wilms tumour andPeutz–Jeghers syndrome.[33]
At the announcement of the completion of theHuman Genome Project in 2000, Stratton discussed using genome sequences to revolutionise cancer treatment.[29] He and Andy Futreal had already initiated theCancer Genome Project at theSanger Centre, as it was then known, to use genome-wide analysis to findsomatic mutations in human cancers.[34] According to fellow cancer researcher Chris Marshall, doing so prior to the completion of the human genome sequence was an "audacious idea."[35] The aims of the project are to identify new cancer genes, to understand how cancers develop and to study how the structure of genomes influence cancer. In 2002 and 2004, Stratton's team discovered mutations in theBRAF[36] andERBB2[37] genes in approximately 60 per cent ofmelanomas and 4 per cent ofnon-small-cell lung cancers respectively.[33]
In 2009, Stratton and colleagues reported the first complete cancer genomes, from a lung tumour and a melanoma.[29][38] They also analysed the genomes from 24 different breast tumours and found a diversity of DNA abnormalities, indicating that cancers can be divided in more subcategories than previously thought.[38][39] Stratton's team maintain theCatalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database, a set of online resources available to thescientific community.[40] He is also one of the lead researchers in the International Cancer Genome Project, a £600 million, multi-national project to sequence 25 000 cancer genomes, from 50 different types of cancer.[33] Stratton's research has been funded by theWellcome Trust and theMedical Research Council (MRC).[41]
In August 2018 it was reported that an investigation was under way into allegations of bullying of staff and gender discrimination made against senior management of theWellcome Trust Sanger Institute, including Stratton.[42] The independent investigation, carried out by the barrister Thomas Kibling fromMatrix Chambers, concluded in October 2018 and cleared Stratton of any wrongdoing.[citation needed] The public report stated that the allegation of bullying was "misplaced, unwarranted and misconceived", while also listing areas for improvement in the workings of the Sanger Institute.[43][44] Some of the claimants disputed these findings.[45]
Michael Stratton is distinguished for his contributions to the genetics of human cancer. Using genetic linkage studies and positional cloning, he mapped and isolated the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2 and subsequently other cancer predisposition genes:CYLD andSTK11. To provide a new approach to find cancer genes he promoted the notion of large scale systematic searches of the human genome for somatic mutations in cancer and initiated the Cancer Genome Project leading to the discovery of BRAF as a melanoma gene. His work has important implications for the understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying cancer, diagnosis and therapy.[48]
In May 2022, Stratton was awarded the inaugural 'In Search of Wonder Lifetime Achievement Award' at the Cambridge Independent's Science and Technology Awards, sponsored by Waterbeach creative design agency JDJ Creative.[49] He received the award at a ceremony held at theWellcome Genome Campus, just three months after announcing his decision to step down as director of theWellcome Sanger Institute and CEO of theWellcome Genome Campus after 12 years in the post.[50] In 2024 he received theRoyal Medal of theRoyal Society.[51]
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^Lancaster, J. M.; Wooster, R; Mangion, J; Phelan, C. M.; Cochran, C; Gumbs, C; Seal, S; Barfoot, R; Collins, N; Bignell, G; Patel, S; Hamoudi, R; Larsson, C; Wiseman, R. W.; Berchuck, A; Iglehart, J. D.; Marks, J. R.; Ashworth, A; Stratton, M. R.; Futreal, P. A. (1996). "BRCA2 mutations in primary breast and ovarian cancers".Nature Genetics.13 (2):238–40.doi:10.1038/ng0696-238.PMID8640235.S2CID26808443.
^Wooster, R.; Neuhausen, S.; Mangion, J.; Quirk, Y.; Ford, D.; Collins, N.; Nguyen, K.; Seal, S.; Tran, T.; Averill, D.; Et, A. (1994). "Localization of a breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA2, to chromosome 13q12-13".Science.265 (5181):2088–2090.Bibcode:1994Sci...265.2088W.doi:10.1126/science.8091231.PMID8091231.
^Wooster, R.; Bignell, G.; Lancaster, J.; Swift, S.; Seal, S.; Mangion, J.; Collins, N.; Gregory, S.; Gumbs, C.; Micklem, G.; Barfoot, R.; Hamoudi, R.; Patel, S.; Rices, C.; Biggs, P.; Hashim, Y.; Smith, A.; Connor, F.; Arason, A.; Gudmundsson, J.; Ficenec, D.; Kelsell, D.; Tonin, P.; Timothy Bishop, D.; Spurr, N. K.; Ponder, B. A. J.; Eeles, R.; Peto, J.; Devilee, P.; Cornelisse, C. (1995). "Identification of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2".Nature.378 (6559):789–792.Bibcode:1995Natur.378..789W.doi:10.1038/378789a0.PMID8524414.S2CID4346791.
^Renwick A, Thompson D, Seal S, et al. (August 2006). "ATM mutations that cause ataxia-telangiectasia are breast cancer susceptibility alleles".Nat. Genet.38 (8):873–5.doi:10.1038/ng1837.PMID16832357.S2CID2909283.
