Overview

Section Chief’s Welcome

Welcome to the Section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago. Our Section boasts a long-standing tradition of excellence in research-based patient care, clinical and scientific discovery, and outstanding education of residents and fellows. Consistently ranked as one of the top cancer programs in the country, our Section includes nationally and internationally recognized faculty with expertise in all major types of malignancies, blood disorders, and experimental therapeutics.

About the Section

The Section of Hematology/Oncology is among the largest subspecialty sections in the University of Chicago’s Department of Medicine. We are composed of more than 50 faculty members, 21 fellows, and a professional staff of over 200 employees, all of whom are devoted to growing our tripartite mission of excellence in research, patient care, and education. Our faculty are experts in their fields, and frequently publish and present prominently about their areas of research and clinical care. We take tremendous pride in training the next generation of leaders in hematology/oncology. Our fellowship has 7 positions per year, with an opportunity for fellows to develop research and clinical skills in a variety of fields related to hematology and oncology. We hold two T32 Training Grants (Medical Oncology and Clinical Pharmacology), as well as a K12 Paul Calabresi grant.

Tripartite Mission: Research, Education, & Clinical Care

Our Section maintains an active research agenda, reflected in numerous clinical trials and grants. We are one of the few institutions conducting clinical trials in Phases I, II, and III of the drug development process. We take pride in focusing on both basic science and translational research, ensuring that clinical trials are available to our patients. We have many “bench to bedside and back to bench” trials leading to new treatments. This enables our clinicians to provide care that is truly at the forefront of oncological and hematological knowledge. These trials are available to patients with blood malignancies, such as leukemias and lymphomas, as well as those with solid tumors in the lung, head and neck, breast, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary tract, among others.

Our research is supported by an extensive portfolio of both federally and privately funded grants. While the positive impacts of our research initiatives are too numerous to list, several key initiatives stand out. These include: our use of artificial intelligence to enhance precision medicine; advances in immunotherapies and cellular therapies, including CAR-T; and the identification of patient populations that may benefit from these and other novel therapies. Our laboratory-based faculty have developed programs of excellence in cancer metabolism, genetics of cancer risk in both solid tumor and hematologic settings, understanding and exploiting the tumor microenvironment, and mechanisms of drug resistance.

Our institution has a long tradition of excellence in cancer research, clinical care, and the interdisciplinary training of the next generation of oncology leaders. This tradition includes significant accomplishments such as:

• the 1941 discovery of the remarkable effects of hormone therapy on prostate and breast cancer culminating in the 1966 Nobel Prize to Dr. Charles Huggins;
• the 1942 discovery of the striking effectiveness of nitrogen mustard as treatment for Hodgkin Disease by Dr. Leon Jacobson, former Dean of the Biological Science Division;
• the 1971 discovery of the t(9;22) translocation creating the Philadelphia chromosome in CML, culminating in the awarding of the 1998 National Medal of Science to Dr. Janet D. Rowley;
• and the 2004 Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research presented to Dr. Elwood Jensen, for discovery of the estrogen receptor which had a rapid, direct, and lasting impact on treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

Selected other important contributions by our Section faculty and leaders include the following

• the development of organ-sparing combined modality therapy for cancers of the head and neck by Dr. Everett Vokes;
• the first observation that the gut microbiome informs response to immunotherapy, by Dr. Tom Gajewski;
• a robust clinical trials program leading to multiple new treatments for patients with acute and chronic myeloid neoplasms, led by Dr. Richard Larson;
• the creation of an outstanding and holistic Adolescent and Young Adult program by Dr. Wendy Stock;
• and the deep investigation of genetics of cancer disparities amongst the African diaspora by Dr. Funmi Olopade.

Our dedication to both basic and translational research continues, with our Section faculty frequently publishing their work in the highest-impact journals in our field. By collaborating with cooperative research groups, like the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, our cancer program provides patients with access to leading research teams across the U.S. and the world. The innovations from our Section have made significant, practice-changing impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of many types of cancer, benefiting the patients who come through our doors and those receiving care globally.

To keep up with our innovative cancer research, follow us on our official Twitter page Tweets by UChicagoHemOnc

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