Oncologist Near Me – Vivek Subbiah: Pionner of Precision Oncology

Oncologist Near Me: Vivek Subbiah

Welcome to OncoDaily’s special section “Oncologist Near Me”, where we introduce prominent oncologists from around the world.

Here, you can get to know the leading cancer specialists in your area, including both personal and professional details that you won’t find in their research articles.

Interested solely in research? We’ve got that covered too! Discover top research articles by the author, learn about their academic achievements, awards, and honors, watch their interviews, and memorize some quotes for much-needed inspiration!

We’ve curated the internet to find the most important information about them. If you have more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Vivek Subbiah, MD

Vivek Subbiah, MD, is a renowned medical oncologist specializing in precision medicine and targeted therapies for cancer treatment. He is the Chief of Early-Phase Drug Development at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute (USA). He was executive director, of Medical Oncology Research, MD Anderson Cancer Network.  He focuses on translational cancer research and the design and implementation of early-phase biomarker-driven clinical trials. His work specifically targets antibody-drug conjugates, radiopharmaceuticals, immunoconjugates, and basket trials.

Education and Career 

Dr. Vivek Subbiah, MD, joined the Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) in June 2023, where he currently serves as the Chief of Early-Phase Drug Development. In this capacity, Dr. Subbiah oversees SCRI’s nine drug development units and spearheads the expansion of early-phase capabilities and programs across its extensive research network.

Prior to joining SCRI, Dr. Subbiah had a distinguished nearly 15-year tenure at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he held several key roles. From July 2012 to September 2018, he served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (A Phase I Program). During this time, he played a pivotal role in advancing MD Anderson’s Phase I Clinical Trials Program.

His work focused on expediting the transition of novel cancer treatments from the laboratory to clinical trials. The program, a centralized resource for physician-scientists and community physicians, led innovative, multidisciplinary first-in-human studies encompassing multiple tumor types within a single study.

From September 2018 to June 2023, Dr. Subbiah served as Medical Director of the Clinical Center for Targeted Therapy (Phase I Program) and Associate Professor in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics. In these roles, he oversaw the design and execution of groundbreaking clinical trials, focusing on targeted therapies and personalized cancer care.

In addition to these roles, Dr. Subbiah served as the Executive Director of Oncology Research for the MD Anderson Cancer Network from October 2019 to June 2023, where he advanced MD Anderson’s mission to improve cancer care quality and accessibility through strategic collaborations with hospitals and health systems worldwide. He led initiatives integrating MD Anderson’s expertise in clinical quality assurance, best practices, and clinical trial access into partner institutions.

After completing his medical education in India, Dr. Vivek Subbiah pursued a combined residency program in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth, Cleveland, Ohio (2004–2008). He earned board certifications in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, showcasing his broad expertise. Dr. Subbiah further honed his skills through rigorous training at MD Anderson Cancer Center, completing a Clinical Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (2008–2011) and a Clinical Fellowship in Adult Medical Oncology (2011–2012).

In his interview with The ASCO Post, Vivek Subiah shared that his inspiration for becoming a doctor came from his grandfather, Prof. S.N. Chokkalingam, whose influence and guidance played a pivotal role in shaping his career path.

Research

Dr. Subbiah focuses on translational cancer research and the design and implementation of early-phase biomarker-driven clinical trials. His work specifically targets antibody-drug conjugates, radiopharmaceuticals, immunoconjugates, and basket trials.

As the principal investigator for more than 100 phase I/II trials and a co-investigator in over 200 clinical studies, Dr. Subbiah has played a pivotal role in advancing oncology research. He has led several first-in-human trials that have resulted in approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency, and other global regulatory bodies. Notably, his leadership in tumor-agnostic precision oncology has been instrumental in the FDA approval of BRAF and RET tissue-agnostic therapies.

Dr. Subbiah has an exceptional ability to assemble and guide multidisciplinary clinical trial teams, fostering collaboration among early-career physician investigators and physicians in training. His dedication to innovation and mentorship is a cornerstone of his research mission to bring novel therapies to cancer patients across all age groups, from adolescents and young adults to older adults.

With over 400 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Subbiah’s work has been featured in prestigious journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, Cancer Discovery, Lancet Oncology, Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, and Clinical Cancer Research. His groundbreaking contributions continue to shape the future of oncology research and patient care.

Honors and Awards

In 2024 Vivek Subbiah was awarded the Yvonne Award in the Voice of Oncology category. This award recognizes individuals who have significantly influenced the field through their outspoken advocacy and contributions. It is given to those whose work and insights have been widely acknowledged and cited within the oncology community.

Other awards:

• Andrew Sabin Family Fellowship – 2021
• Emil Frei III Award for Excellence In Translational Research – 2021

Beyond The White Coat

Dr. Vivek Subbiah enjoys a fulfilling personal life with his wife, Dr. Ishwaria Subbiah, a medical oncologist at MD Anderson specializing in supportive care. They have three children—a daughter and two sons—and rely on their extended family for support.

Weekends are spent exploring Houston’s Museum of Natural Science, enjoying cultural activities, or visiting national parks. Dr. Subbiah also shares a love for symphonies and opera, introduced to him by his wife.

He finds inspiration in mentoring young physicians and working with former fellows, many of whom have become faculty members and lifelong friends. For Dr. Subbiah, his family, mentorship, and work blend seamlessly, making life both rewarding and meaningful.

Vivek Subbiah with her wife Ishwaria Subbiah. Photo credit to Ishwaria Subbiah/FaceBook

Interviews and Lectures with Vivek Subbiah

Dr. Vivek Subbiah on Pioneering Precision Oncology and Global Clinical Trials, OncoInfluencers, (Sep 9, 2024) – OncoDaily

Next-Generation Sequencing and Targets in Early-Phase Colorectal Cancer Drug Development – OncoDaily

Designing clinical trials for precision oncology. 262 – ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.

Ishwaria & Vivek Subbiah (Part 1): Origin Story for a Great Oncology Power Couple – BeaconMedIC

Pralsetinib for Advanced or Metastatic RET-Altered Thyroid Cancer with Dr. Vivek Subbiah – THANC Foundation

Walks on a Beach With an Inspiring Grandfather Led to a Career in Cancer Research and Drug Development for Vivek Subbiah, MD – The ASCO Post

Top 10 papers by Vivek Subbiah*

1. Subbiah V, Kreitman RJ, Wainberg ZA, Cho JY, Schellens JHM, Soria JC, Wen PY, Zielinski C, Cabanillas ME, Urbanowitz G, Mookerjee B, Wang D, Rangwala F, Keam B. Dabrafenib and Trametinib Treatment in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic BRAF V600-Mutant Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Jan 1;36(1):7-13. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.73.6785. Epub 2017 Oct 26. PMID: 29072975; PMCID: PMC5791845.
2. Drilon A, Oxnard GR, Tan DSW, Loong HHF, Johnson M, Gainor J, McCoach CE, Gautschi O, Besse B, Cho BC, Peled N, Weiss J, Kim YJ, Ohe Y, Nishio M, Park K, Patel J, Seto T, Sakamoto T, Rosen E, Shah MH, Barlesi F, Cassier PA, Bazhenova L, De Braud F, Garralda E, Velcheti V, Satouchi M, Ohashi K, Pennell NA, Reckamp KL, Dy GK, Wolf J, Solomon B, Falchook G, Ebata K, Nguyen M, Nair B, Zhu EY, Yang L, Huang X, Olek E, Rothenberg SM, Goto K, Subbiah V. Efficacy of Selpercatinib in RET Fusion-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020 Aug 27;383(9):813-824. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2005653. PMID: 32846060; PMCID: PMC7506467.
3. Subbiah V, Lassen U, Élez E, Italiano A, Curigliano G, Javle M, de Braud F, Prager GW, Greil R, Stein A, Fasolo A, Schellens JHM, Wen PY, Viele K, Boran AD, Gasal E, Burgess P, Ilankumaran P, Wainberg ZA. Dabrafenib plus trametinib in patients with BRAF^V600E-mutated biliary tract cancer (ROAR): a phase 2, open-label, single-arm, multicentre basket trial. Lancet Oncol. 2020 Sep;21(9):1234-1243. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30321-1. Epub 2020 Aug 17. PMID: 32818466.
4. Subbiah V, Gainor JF, Rahal R, Brubaker JD, Kim JL, Maynard M, Hu W, Cao Q, Sheets MP, Wilson D, Wilson KJ, DiPietro L, Fleming P, Palmer M, Hu MI, Wirth L, Brose MS, Ou SI, Taylor M, Garralda E, Miller S, Wolf B, Lengauer C, Guzi T, Evans EK. Precision Targeted Therapy with BLU-667 for RET-Driven Cancers. Cancer Discov. 2018 Jul;8(7):836-849. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-18-0338. Epub 2018 Apr 15. PMID: 29657135.
5. Subbiah V, Velcheti V, Tuch BB, Ebata K, Busaidy NL, Cabanillas ME, Wirth LJ, Stock S, Smith S, Lauriault V, Corsi-Travali S, Henry D, Burkard M, Hamor R, Bouhana K, Winski S, Wallace RD, Hartley D, Rhodes S, Reddy M, Brandhuber BJ, Andrews S, Rothenberg SM, Drilon A. Selective RET kinase inhibition for patients with RET-altered cancers. Ann Oncol. 2018 Aug 1;29(8):1869-1876. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdy137. PMID: 29912274; PMCID: PMC6096733.
6. Gainor JF, Curigliano G, Kim DW, Lee DH, Besse B, Baik CS, Doebele RC, Cassier PA, Lopes G, Tan DSW, Garralda E, Paz-Ares LG, Cho BC, Gadgeel SM, Thomas M, Liu SV, Taylor MH, Mansfield AS, Zhu VW, Clifford C, Zhang H, Palmer M, Green J, Turner CD, Subbiah V. Pralsetinib for RET fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (ARROW): a multi-cohort, open-label, phase 1/2 study. Lancet Oncol. 2021 Jul;22(7):959-969. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00247-3. Epub 2021 Jun 9. Erratum in: Lancet Oncol. 2021 Aug;22(8):e347. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00392-2. PMID: 34118197.
7. Subbiah V. The next generation of evidence-based medicine. Nat Med. 2023 Jan;29(1):49-58. doi: 10.1038/s41591-022-02160-z. Epub 2023 Jan 16. PMID: 36646803.
8. Subbiah V, Hu MI, Wirth LJ, Schuler M, Mansfield AS, Curigliano G, Brose MS, Zhu VW, Leboulleux S, Bowles DW, Baik CS, Adkins D, Keam B, Matos I, Garralda E, Gainor JF, Lopes G, Lin CC, Godbert Y, Sarker D, Miller SG, Clifford C, Zhang H, Turner CD, Taylor MH. Pralsetinib for patients with advanced or metastatic RET-altered thyroid cancer (ARROW): a multi-cohort, open-label, registrational, phase 1/2 study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2021 Aug;9(8):491-501. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(21)00120-0. Epub 2021 Jun 9. Erratum in: Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2021 Oct;9(10):e4. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(21)00247-3. PMID: 34118198.
9. Subbiah V, Baik C, Kirkwood JM. Clinical Development of BRAF plus MEK Inhibitor Combinations. Trends Cancer. 2020 Sep;6(9):797-810. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.05.009. Epub 2020 Jun 13. PMID: 32540454.
10. Wen PY, Stein A, van den Bent M, De Greve J, Wick A, de Vos FYFL, von Bubnoff N, van Linde ME, Lai A, Prager GW, Campone M, Fasolo A, Lopez-Martin JA, Kim TM, Mason WP, Hofheinz RD, Blay JY, Cho DC, Gazzah A, Pouessel D, Yachnin J, Boran A, Burgess P, Ilankumaran P, Gasal E, Subbiah V. Dabrafenib plus trametinib in patients with BRAF^V600E-mutant low-grade and high-grade glioma (ROAR): a multicentre, open-label, single-arm, phase 2, basket trial. Lancet Oncol. 2022 Jan;23(1):53-64. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00578-7. Epub 2021 Nov 24. PMID: 34838156.

*Most cited papers, where Vivek Subbiah is the first or last author according to Google Scholar

Quotes from Vivek Subbiah

• “It is important to make clear that AI will not replace physicians because the patient-physician relationship is one that is fundamentally impossible to mimic.”
• “I think all cancers, rare or common, should be thought of as emergencies, and we should work together to create drugs to treat them. One of the main problems is that we all work in silos. We need to break up these silos so that we can work together as a team, to realize a true personalized vision in oncology.”
• “I firmly believe that genomics is a powerful diagnostic tool that should be used universally. Even an untreatable disease warrants an accurate diagnosis.”
• “It is an exciting time to be in oncology. We are at the cusp of the next generation of personalized medicine that requires rapid and effective patient access to clinical trials.“

How to contact him?

Email:  [email protected]
Location: 2410 Patterson St, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

References

1. Walks on a Beach With an Inspiring Grandfather Led to a Career in Cancer Research and Drug Development for Vivek Subbiah, MD – The ASCO Post
2. Vivek Subbiah – ESMO
3. Vivek Subbiah, MD, Joins SCRI to Advance Early-Phase Clinical Research – Business Wire
4. Vivek Subbiah – LinkedIn
5. Vivek Subbiah – X
6. Vivek Subbiah Receives 2024 Yvonne Award in the Voice of Oncology Category – OncoDaily
7. Dr. Vivek Subbiah on Pioneering Precision Oncology and Global Clinical Trials, OncoInfluencers – OncoDaily
8. Meet the 2021 Andrew Sabin Family Fellows – MD Anderson Cancer Center

See also:

• Oncologist Near Me – Lillian Siu: Curiosity-Driven Cancer Innovator
• Oncologist Near Me: Pashtoon Kasi – Pioneering Cancer Specialist
• Oncologist Near Me – Eric Small: Prominent Prostate Cancer Specialist
• Oncologist Near Me – Julie R. Gralow: A Visionary Leader in Global Cancer Care
• Oncologist Near Me – Fabrice André: Leading Expert in Breast Cancer