Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD Professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology and Immunology in the Division of Cancer Medicine Biography Dr. Sharma is an immunologist and oncologist whose research work is focused on investigating mechanisms and pathways within the immune system that facilitate tumor rejection or elicit resistance to immune checkpoint therapy. She is a Professor in the departments of Genitourinary Medical Oncology and Immunology, Associate VP of Immunobiology and the T.C. and Jeanette D. Hsu Endowed Chair in Cell Biology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is also the inaugural Scientific Director for the Immunotherapy Platform and the Director of Scientific Programs for the James P. Allison Institute at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Sharma has written and conducted multiple innovative immunotherapy clinical trials, with an emphasis on obtaining patients’ tumor samples for in-depth laboratory studies, including the first neoadjuvant trial with immune checkpoint therapy and first clinical trial with immune checkpoint therapy for patients with bladder cancer. Her studies have identified novel resistance mechanisms to immune checkpoint therapy, including loss of interferon (IFN) signaling, VISTA⁺ immunosuppressive cells, increased EZH2 expression in T cells, TGFβ signaling in bone metastases, and CD73⁺ myeloid cells in GBM. These data have led to initiation of new research studies focused on developing rational combination immunotherapy strategies for the treatment of cancer patients. As a result of her outstanding contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy, Dr. Sharma was selected as a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) and was awarded the Emil Frei III Award for Excellence in Translational Research in 2016, the Coley Award for Distinguished Research for Tumor Immunology in 2018, the Women in Science with Excellence (WISE) Award in 2020, the Heath Memorial Award in 2021 and the Randall Prize for Excellence in Cancer Research in 2021. Education & Training 2004: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, Clinical Fellowship, Medical Oncology 2000: New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine 1998: Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, MD, Medicine 1998: Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, Ph.D., Immunology 1991: Boston University, Boston, MA, MA, Biotechnology 1990: Boston University, Boston, MA, BA, Biology Awards & Honors 2021: Heath Memorial Award and Randall Prize for Excellence in Cancer Research 2020: Women in Science with Excellence (WISE) Award 2018: Coley Award for Distinguished Research for Tumor Immunology 2016: Emil Frei III Award for Excellence in Translational Research 2012: MD Anderson Cancer Center Faculty Scholar Award; MD Anderson Women Faculty Programs "Woman Leading the Way"; National Institute of Health R01 Award 2011: Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas Award 2010: DOD/CDMRP Idea Development Award 2009: American Cancer Society Mentored Research Scholar Grant 2008: Doris Duke Clinical Scientist Development Award; Melanoma Research Alliance Young Investigator Award; Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award in Immunology 2007: Carl C. Anderson, Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation; MD Anderson Cancer Center Bladder Cancer SPORE Development Award; The Gillson Longenbaugh Foundation 2006: American Society of Clinical Oncology Career Development Award; Cancer Research Institute Clinical Investigator Award; Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award 2005: MD Anderson Cancer Center Institutional Research Grant; MD Anderson Cancer Center Physician Scientist Training Program Award; National Institute of Health Renewal Clinical Loan Repayment Program Award 2003: American Society of Clinical Oncology, Young Investigator Award Recipient; Award Recipient, GSK National Medical Oncology Fellows Forum 2002: Award for Abstract Presentation, Doris Duke Symposium 2001: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Institutional NIH T32 Grant 1998: Pennsylvania State University, Department of Medicine Scholarship for Excellence in Medicine 1995: Pennsylvania State University Student Clinician Research Award 1994: The Judy S. Finkelstein Memorial Award in Immunology 1990: Golden Key National Honor Society