Abdul Rafeh Naqash

Abdul Rafeh Naqash

Medical Oncologist

Immuno Oncology

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center

Location USA, Oklahoma City

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Dr. Abdul Rafeh Naqash is an internationally recognized medical oncologist and clinical investigator specializing in thoracic oncology, early-phase clinical trials, translational biomarker research, and cancer immunotherapy. He currently serves as Senior Associate Director for AI and Data Science and Associate Professor at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the 2026 American Society of Clinical Investigation Young Physician-Scientist Award, the NIH Director’s Award, and the NCI Director’s Award.

Current Position

  • Associate Professor, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
  • Senior Associate Director for AI and Data Science, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center
  • Director of Immuno-Oncology, Stephenson Cancer Center
  • Member, ASCO Scientific Committee
  • Member, ASCO Lung Guideline Committee

Education

  • MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) — Government Medical College, Srinagar, Kashmir
  • MD in Investigational Cancer Therapeutics — National Institutes of Health / National Cancer Institute
  • Residency in Internal Medicine — Catholic Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
  • Fellowship in Hematology and Oncology — East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
  • Clinical Fellowship — National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

Professional Experience

  • Associate Professor at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center (July 2025 – Present), and previously Assistant Professor (September 2021 – July 2025), where he focuses on phase 1 clinical trials, drug development, immunotherapy biomarkers, and genomics of lung cancer.
  • Senior Associate Director for AI and Data Science at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, where he leads drug development efforts incorporating a genomically driven approach to early-phase clinical trials, with research interests in lung cancer, immunotherapy biomarkers, patterns of resistance to immunotherapy, and immune toxicities.
  • Director of Immuno-Oncology at Stephenson Cancer Center.
    Clinical Fellow at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD (July 2019 – June 2021), where he designed early-phase clinical trials in cancer and conducted biomarker discovery research.
  • Fellow in Hematology and Oncology at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC (July 2016 – June 2019), with clinical and research responsibilities.
  • Researcher at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (August 2014 – June 2016), where he studied epigenetics and the role of demethylating agents in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
  • Internal Medicine Resident at Catholic Health, University at Buffalo (June 2013 – June 2016), providing care for medical floor, ICU, and outpatient patients.
  • Researcher at University at Buffalo (August 2012 – January 2013), leading research on Type 1 Diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.
  • Summer Research Fellow at NII – National Institute of Immunology (May 2012 – July 2012), conducting stem cell research, transplantation immunology and its relation to GVHD, and FACS analysis for isolation of immune system cells.
  • Visiting Medical Student at University of Kansas Medical Center (July 2011 – September 2011), completing a hands-on rotation in Hematology and Endocrinology.
  • Frequent speaker at national conferences including ASCO and SITC, serving on multiple national trial committees.
  • Deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of trainees and engaging in national advocacy on behalf of international medical graduates.

Research Activity

  • Early-phase clinical trials in solid tumors with a genomically driven approach to drug development.
  • Immunotherapy biomarkers including tumor mutational burden, C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and frameshift mutations as predictors of immune checkpoint inhibitor response.
  • Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) secondary to immune checkpoint inhibitors, including cardiotoxicity, pneumonitis, diabetes, and rare events such as the triple M overlap syndrome of myocarditis, myositis, and myasthenia gravis.
  • STK11/TP53 co-mutated NSCLC tumor microenvironment and metabolic profiling.
  • Safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in special populations including geriatric patients, people living with HIV, patients with autoimmune neurologic disorders, and patients with cardiac metastases.
  • Molecular characterization of small cell lung cancer subtypes and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.
  • Gut microbiome modulation and its impact on immunotherapy response.
  • AI and data science applications in precision oncology and clinical trial matching.
  • Alveolar soft part sarcoma biology and response to atezolizumab.
  • Localized ablative immunotherapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
  • Epigenetics and the role of demethylating agents in acute myeloid leukemia.

Memberships / Honors / Awards

  • American Society of Clinical Investigation Young Physician-Scientist Award (2026)
  • ASCO Conquer Cancer Career Development Award (2025)
  • Yvonne Award for Mentorship, OncoDaily (2025)
  • Consultant Editor Appreciation Award, Journal of Clinical Oncology Precision Oncology (2024)
  • NIH Director’s Award (2023)
  • Oncology Educational Fellowship, AACR and FDA Oncology Center of Excellence (2022–2023)
  • Impact Award, Hope Foundation for Cancer Research (2022)
  • 40 Under 40 in Cancer Award, The Association for Value-Based Cancer Care (2022)
  • Best Oral Presentation, Oklahoma Thoracic Society (2022)
  • Developmental Therapeutics Clinic Team Award, National Cancer Institute (2021)
  • Allen Litchen Endowed Merit Award, Conquer Cancer Foundation (2021)
  • Young Investigators Forum, Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer (2021)
  • Top 5 Reviewer Award, Journal of Clinical Oncology Precision Oncology (2021)
  • Young Investigator Award, Conquer Cancer Foundation (2020)
  • Ambassador Program Award, Global Resource for Advancing Cancer Education (2020)
  • Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School Travel Grant Award, Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer (2020)
  • Editorial Fellowship Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology (2020)
  • Sparkathon Award, Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer (2019)
  • SITC Merit Award, ASCO (2019)
  • SITC Merit Award, ASCO (2018)
  • Outstanding Fellow Award, North Carolina Oncology Association (2018)
  • Paul R. Walker Research Excellence Award, East Carolina University (2019)
  • Best Oral Presentation, East Carolina University (2019)
  • Best Oral Presentation (2nd Place), State University of New York at Buffalo (2016)
  • Immunotherapy Mentorship Course Travel Grant Award, European School of Oncology (2016)
  • Asia Travel Grant Award, European Society of Medical Oncology (2015)
  • Summer Research Internship Award, Indian Academy of Science (2012)
  • Board Certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine

Areas of Specialization

  • Thoracic oncology and lung cancer
  • Early-phase clinical trials and drug development
  • Cancer immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors
  • Immunotherapy biomarkers and resistance mechanisms
  • Immune-related adverse events
  • AI and data science in precision oncology

Publications

Dr. Abdul Rafeh Naqash has 270 publications covering immunotherapy, thoracic oncology, immune-related adverse events, and early-phase clinical trials. His most influential publications include:

Naqash AR, Ricciuti B, Owen DH, Walker P, et al. Outcomes Associated with Immune-Related Adverse Events in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Nivolumab: A Pooled Exploratory Analysis from a Global Cohort. Jul 2020.
Ricciuti B, Naqash AR, Naidoo J, Awad MM, et al. Association between Immune-Related Adverse Events and Clinical Outcomes to PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade in Small Cell Lung Cancer. Aug 2020.
Nebhan CA, Cortellini A, Ma W, Naqash AR, et al. Clinical Outcomes and Toxic Effects of Single-Agent Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Among Patients Aged 80 Years or Older With Cancer: A Multicenter International Cohort Study. Dec 2021.
Naqash AR, Floudas CS, Aber E, Mamdani H, et al. Influence of TP53 Comutation on the Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Clinical Outcomes With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in STK11-Mutant Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Feb 2024.
Nassar AH, Zarif T, Khalid AB, Sonpavde G, Naqash AR, et al. Clinical Outcomes and Safety of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Solid Tumors and Paraneoplastic Syndromes. Mar 2024.
Zarif T, Nassar AH, Adib E, Naqash AR, et al. Safety and Activity of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in People Living With HIV and Cancer: A Real-World Report From the CATCH-IT Consortium. May 2023.
Sen T, Takahashi N, Chakraborty S, Naqash AR, et al. Emerging Advances in Defining the Molecular and Therapeutic Landscape of Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Jul 2024.
Naqash AR, McCallen JD, Mi E, Cortellini A, et al. Increased Interleukin-6/C-Reactive Protein Levels Are Associated with the Upregulation of the Adenosine Pathway and Serve as Potential Markers of Therapeutic Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Therapies in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Oct 2023.
Florou V, Floudas CS, Maoz A, Garrido-Laguna I, Naqash AR, et al. Real-World Pan-Cancer Landscape of Frameshift Mutations and Their Role in Predicting Responses to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancers with Low Tumor Mutational Burden. Aug 2023.
Naqash AR, Moey MYY, Tan XWC, Sharon E, et al. Major Adverse Cardiac Events With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Pooled Analysis of Trials Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Jun 2022.
Abu-Sbeih H, Faleck DM, Ricciuti B, Wang Y, Naqash AR, et al. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Patients With Preexisting Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Dec 2019.
Chen AP, Sharon E, O’Sullivan Coyne G, Doroshow JH, Naqash AR, et al. Atezolizumab for Advanced Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma. Sep 2023.
Shankar B, Zhang J, Naqash AR, Naidoo J, et al. Multisystem Immune-Related Adverse Events Associated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Treatment of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. Dec 2020.
Cortellini A, Ricciuti B, Borghaei H, Pinato DJ, Naqash AR, et al. Differential Prognostic Effect of Systemic Inflammation in Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Immunotherapy or Chemotherapy: A Post Hoc Analysis of the Phase 3 OAK Trial. Jun 2022.
Nassar AH, Kim SY, Aredo JV, Goldberg SB, Naqash AR, et al. Consolidation Osimertinib versus Durvalumab versus Observation following Concurrent Chemoradiation in Unresectable EGFR-Mutant Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Jan 2024.

His most recent publications include:

Chen AP, Rosenberger CL, Moore N, Doroshow JH, Naqash AR, et al. Atezolizumab for Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma: A Clinical Trial Update. Apr 2026.
Puri S, Elliott A, Naqash AR, Owonikoko T, et al. Multiomic Characterization of Small Cell Lung Cancer: Real-World Insights into Therapeutic Opportunities. Feb 2026.
Quandt Z, Finnigan S, Hill V, Sharon E, Naqash AR, et al. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor–Induced Diabetes Across National Cancer Institute Trials That Included PD-1 or PD-L1 Agents. Feb 2026.
Nassar AH, Bou Farhat E, Abushukair H, Winer EP, Naqash AR, et al. Molecular and Clinical Insights of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Efficacy in Advanced Breast Cancer. Dec 2025.
Schram AM, Naqash AR, Haura EB, Meyerowitz JG, et al. The Bi-Steric, mTORC1-Selective Inhibitor RMC-5552 in Advanced Solid Tumors: A Phase 1 Trial. Oct 2025.
Nassar AH, Kim C, Adeyelu T, Chiang A, Naqash AR, et al. Integrated Molecular and Clinical Characterization of Pulmonary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma. Aug 2025.
Fletcher K, Machaalani M, El Hajj Chehade R, Johnson D, Naqash AR, et al. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Patients With Preexisting Autoimmune Neurologic Disorders. Jun 2025.
Naqash AR, Aijaz A, Bibi A, Zaman U, et al. Non-Infectious Sarcoid-Like Inflammatory Granulomatous Conditions Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Results from the International ICARUS Consortium. Jun 2025.
Naqash AR, Pannu S, Bibi A, Gradnigo T, et al. Leveraging High Variant Allele Frequencies of DNA Damage Repair Mutations in Liquid Biopsy as a Surrogate for Germline Testing: Implications for Precision Medicine. Jun 2025.
Nassar AH, Jayakrishnan R, Feng J, Kim SY, Naqash AR, et al. Consolidation ALK Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors versus Durvalumab or Observation After Chemoradiation in Unresectable Stage III ALK+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Sep 2024.

All information is sourced from publicly available materials.