Daruka Mahadevan, MD, PhD

I am an internationally recognized Physician-Scientist in Hematology and Medical Oncology. I have a demonstrated track record of delivering first-in-human investigational agents to cancer patients.  In addition, I have successfully directed a structure-based translational drug discovery laboratory program with the award of 9 individual US patents for new drugs in oncology. One drug ‘Amuvatinib’ targeting c-Kit/c-Met/PDGFR/RAD51 has completed phase I and II trials. As PI or co-PI on several NIH and Foundation grants, I established proof-of-concept and delivered on drug discovery - R01 (AKT PH domain inhibitors) and on drug development - NSF (Prostate cancer translational drug development), SPORE in Lymphoma (Aurora kinase inhibitor therapy for aggressive lymphoma) and SWOG Hope Foundation (targeted therapeutics for aggressive B- and T-cell non-Hodgkin Lymphomas). Over the past 4 years (2016 to 2019) at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, an NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, as part of the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), I was the co-chair of the Therapeutic Development Program (TDP) that fostered collaboration among participant members from the Cancer Center with monthly meetings, hosted the yearly Cancer Center retreat in 2016 and collaborative day of research with the Cancer Biology Program. In addition, I participated in the monthly Scientific Leadership committee meetings at UACC, the NCI external advisory board (EAB) meeting (Feb 2016, CCSG renewal) and yearly EAB meetings. In addition, I received an NCI P30 supplement (2017-2019) of $150,000 to study rare cancers by whole exome sequencing of tumor vs. normal in collaboration with the UA Genomics Core. We have sequenced over 40 patients with a multitude of rare cancers and presented this data at ASCO 2019. A manuscript is in preparation for peer-review. At UTHSA, as Division Chief in Hematology/Medical Oncology, I will continue increase and expand the bandwidth of the early phase therapeutics portfolio to also include Investigator Initiated Studies and help Dr. Ruben Mesa, the Cancer Center Director with his vision for the Mays Cancer Center.