Translational Oncology Research
Speeding new cancer treatments with collaborative teams
The Translational Oncology (TO) Program is designed to support bidirectional translation of findings between the bench and the clinic, leading to actionable biomarkers and precise interventions that improve patient outcomes, with an emphasis on high-priority tumors in the Strategic Plan. Working with CRTEC and COE, the TO Program offers platforms for multidisciplinary training and facilitates catchment-area priorities.
TO is co-led by Jeffrey Tyner, Ph.D., whose research focuses on functional genomics to inform therapeutic response signatures in heme malignancies, and RamonBarajas Jr., M.D., a physician-scientist focusing on molecular imaging–driven biomarkers and therapeutics in neuro-oncology. TO co-leaders also receive oversight and support from Gordon Mills, M.D., Ph.D., the Associate Director of Translational Research, and Eneida Nemecek, M.D., the Associate Director of Clinical Research. The program pursues its objective through two bidirectional aims:
Aim 1. To Develop Therapeutic Targeting Strategies and Biomarkers. TO aims to develop and employ comprehensive analytical platforms for deep characterization of malignant cell intrinsic and microenvironmental features in patient samples, guiding the deployment and evaluation of precision therapies. Clinical data, imaging, and biological specimens will lead to targets and mechanisms of resistance, as well as biomarkers that drive laboratory investigations within TO, CB, QO, and CPC.
Aim 2. To Implement High-Impact Clinical Interventions. TO aims to integrate the bidirectional analyses in Aim 1 as well as laboratory discoveries from KCI investigators into paradigm-changing clinical interventions designed to evaluate biomarkers and approaches to overcome therapeutic resistance.
Through these Aims, TO assists KCI leadership in prioritizing translational activities through mechanisms that include Pilot projects, networking events/retreats, a work-in-progress series, the IIT incubator, tumor boards, disease site meetings, and the Translational Subcommittee – with an overall mission of providing a systematic process for prioritizing and advancing therapeutics, assays, and technologies into clinical evaluation.
Program Leaders
Program Members
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- Christopher Amling, M.D., FACS
- John C. Barry Chair of Urology
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- Ramon Barajas, M.D.
- Neuroradiologist
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- Charles D. Blanke, M.D., FACP, FASCO
- Professor of Medicine, Knight Cancer Institute; Chair, SWOG
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- Bill Hoon Chang, M.D., Ph.D.
- Director, Leukemia and Lymphoma Program
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- Yoon-Jae Cho, M.D.
- Ericksen Family Endowed Professor for Research
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- Esther G. Chong, M.D. (she/her)
- Medical Oncologist
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- Daniel Robert Clayburgh, M.D., Ph.D., FACS
- Chief of Surgery at Portland Veterans Administration Health System
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- Rachel J. Cook, M.D., M.S.
- Clinician, Center for Hematologic Malignancies; Site Director, Acute Leukemia
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- Brian J. Druker, M.D.
- Chief Executive Officer, Knight Cancer Institute
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- Guang Fan, M.D., Ph.D. (she/her)
- Professor
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- Khashayar Farsad, M.D., Ph.D.
- Josef Rösch Chair of Interventional Radiology
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- Elizabeth A. Fialkowski, M.D., FACS, FAAP
- Associate Professor of Surgery
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- Kenneth R. Gundle, M.D.
- Orthopedic Surgeon
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- Arthur Y. Hung, M.D.
- Radiation Oncologist
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- Vishesh Khanna, M.D. (he/him)
- Oncologist
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- Hannah Kornfeld, M.D. (she/her)
- Assistant Professor of Surgery
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- Shivaani Kummar, M.D., FACP
- Director, Knight Cancer Institute
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- Skye C. Mayo, M.D., M.P.H., FACS
- Professor of Surgery
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- Gordon Mills, M.D.,Ph.D.
- Wayne and Julie Drinkward Endowed Chair in Precision Oncology
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- Timur Mitin, M.D., Ph.D.
- Radiation Oncologist
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- Erik S. Mittra, M.D., Ph.D.
- Nuclear Medicine Physician
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- Nima Nabavizadeh, M.D.
- Radiation Oncologist
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- Arpana M. Naik, M.D., FACS
- Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery
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- Eneida R. Nemecek, M.D., M.S., M.B.A.
- Nancy Jaggar Blount Endowed Professor of Pediatrics & Medical Oncology; Director, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital; Associate Director of Clinical Research, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
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- Laura Newell, M.D.
- Assistant Professor, Knight Cancer Institute
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- Rodney F. Pommier, M.D., FACS, FSSO
- Professor of Surgery
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- Carl Post, M.D. (he/him)
- Radiation Oncologist
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- Sushant Puri, M.B.B.S. (he/him)
- Neuro-oncologist
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- Alia Qureshi, M.Sc., M.D., FACS, FRCSC
- Associate Professor of Surgery
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- Stephen Roberts, M.D. (he/him)
- Robert C. Neerhout Chair of Pediatric Oncology, Division Head, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
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- Flavio G. Rocha, M.D., FACS, FSSO
- Professor and Division Head of Surgical Oncology; Physician-in-Chief of Knight Cancer Institute, Hugh Hedinger and Georgeina Hedinger Chair of Surgical Oncology
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- Olga Senashova, M.D.
- Endocrinologist
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- Brett C. Sheppard, M.D., FACS
- William E. Colson Chair of Pancreatic Disease Research
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- Divya Sood, M.D.
- Assistant Professor of Surgery
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- Alison Skalet, M.D., Ph.D., FACS
- Paul H. Casey Chair in Ocular Oncology
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- Stephen E.F. Spurgeon, M.D.
- Distinguished Scholar of Leukemia and Lymphoma Research
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- Rajat Thawani, M.D.
- Medical Oncologist
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- V. Liana Tsikitis, M.D., M.B.A., M.C.R., FACS, FASCRS (she/her)
- Professor and Division Head of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery
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- John T. Vetto, M.D., FACS, FASA
- Professor of Surgery
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- Huan Vo, M.D. (he/him)
- Director of Clinical Research; Neuro-oncology. Clinical Director; Neuro-oncology
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- Josh Walker, M.D., Ph.D.
- Radiation Oncologist
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- Mark K. Wax, M.D., FACS, FRCS
- Director of the Residency Program and Co-Director of Facial Plastic and Microvascular Reconstruction Fellowship Program