publication date: Jun. 16, 2017

In Brief Immunology expert Robert Ferris named director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Robert Ferris, an expert in immunotherapy and specialist in head and neck cancer, was named director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

Starting July 1, Ferris, a 15-year veteran of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, will have overall responsibility for all aspects of cancer research and education at the NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. His appointment follows a nationwide search after the departure of Nancy Davidson (The Cancer Letter, Oct. 14, 2016).

Ferris serves as chief of the Division of Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery in the departments of Otolaryngology and Immunology. He also serves as co-leader of the Cancer Immunology Program and most recently was appointed associate director for translational research and co-director of the Tumor Microenvironment Center.

The development and implementation of immunotherapy to treat head and neck tumors has been the primary research focus of the Ferris laboratory. The goals of this research are to boost the bodys immune response against cancer. More recently, his work focuses on how immune cells in the tumor microenvironment influence cancer progression and can be harnessed to advance treatment.

Ferris is co-chair of the NCI Steering Committee for Head and Neck Cancer, at-large director of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, senior examiner of the American Board of Otolaryngology, and chair of the NCI Tumor Microenvironment Study Continue reading Immunology expert Robert Ferris named director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

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In Brief Immunology expert Robert Ferris named director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center - The Cancer Letter Publications