Alex Kentsis, MD, PhD

I am a pediatric oncologist who treats children and young adults with leukemias and refractory tumors. In particular, I am interested in developing treatments that maximize the success of currently available therapies and devising new therapies that are precise, curative, and safe.

My research takes advantage of modern technologies to improve our understanding of the biologic causes of blood and kidney cancers. Together with colleagues, I have made discoveries about new therapeutic targets in cancer cells, mechanisms by which cancer cells can evade new treatments, and improved strategies to overcome treatment resistance. I am a member of the Children's Oncology Group Renal Tumor Committee, where I help to devise national clinical trials of improved treatments that leverage these advances. This work has been recognized by the Research Award from the Society of Pediaric Research (2009), Investigator Award from the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (2012), and the Investigator Award from the American Society for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (2013)