Internationally known clinical and
translational researcher also co-leads the GI oncology team
DETROIT, May 20, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer
Institute welcomes Wasif
Saif, M.D., MBBS, as the new leader of the Phase 1 Clinical
Trials Multidisciplinary Team and co-leader of the Gastrointestinal
(GI) and Neuroendocrine Oncology Multidisciplinary Team
(MDT). Dr. Saif is a world-renowned hematologist and
oncologist specializing in GI cancers, experimental therapeutics
and pharmacogenetics. He joined Karmanos on March 1, 2024.
"Karmanos Cancer Institute is a trailblazer in cancer research
and has been a major contributor to significant strides in new drug
and therapy development," said Dr. Saif. "I am most excited about
continuing translational research at this NCI-Designated
Comprehensive Cancer Center with access to a diverse cancer
population. This cancer center's rich data from clinical trials,
studies, and investigations largely shapes the understanding of
cancer and treatment for multiple populations. The avenues the
physicians, scientists, and researchers have open to them are
endless, and I am honored to be part of this significant work in
Detroit."
Dr. Saif has an extensive background in translational research
and developing and managing clinical trials. As the Phase 1
Clinical Trials MDT leader, he will lead a team of physician
co-investigators, non-physician providers, clinical personnel, and
Clinical Trials Office staff to oversee Phase 1 solid tumor
investigations. Karmanos' Phase 1 team oversees over 70 clinical
trials at various stages of the protocol lifecycle. Members of this
MDT include medical oncologists specializing in many different
cancers, who research, study, and develop therapies, bringing them
from lab to bedside. Having a Phase 1 team in Detroit gives cancer patients access to
promising new treatments not offered elsewhere.
Dr. Saif will also work alongside Najeeb
Al Hallak, M.D., MS, medical oncologist, in leading the GI
and Neuroendocrine Oncology MDT, a team made up of cardiothoracic
surgeons, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, hematologists,
medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, radiation
oncologists, and surgical oncologists that dedicate their research
and treatment to GI and neuroendocrine cancers. He specializes in
treating anal, biliary, colon, carcinoid, esophagus, GIST, liver,
pancreas, rectum, and stomach cancers. His research interests
include anticancer drug development with an emphasis on analysis of
pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, biomarker discovery,
pharmacogenetics, epidemiology and disparity studies in GI cancers,
and developing complementary and alternative medicines to treat
cancer.
"Dr. Saif's philosophy and leadership in novel therapeutics fits
our vision of continuing to grow our Phase 1 Clinical Trials
Program at Karmanos. His research interests in GI cancers will
complement our GI team. I am confident we will see more
breakthrough discoveries from these MDTs with Dr. Saif's leadership
and vision," said Boris Pasche, M.D.
Ph.D., FACP, president and CEO at Karmanos.
In addition to his leadership roles, Dr. Saif sees patients at
Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit.
He is also a professor in the Department of Oncology at
Wayne State University School of
Medicine.
Before joining Karmanos, Dr. Saif served on the faculty at the
University of Alabama at Birmingham,
Yale University School of Medicine in
New Haven, Connecticut,
Columbia University in New York City, and Tufts
University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. He has served as the
leader of the GI oncology division at Yale, Columbia, and Tufts and as the program leader in experimental
therapeutics at Tufts. He has also
served in executive roles at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York and Orlando
Health. Dr. Saif is a member of the American Society of
Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), Carcinoid
Foundation, and American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics (ASPET). He has served as the principal investigator
on over 75 clinical trials and has published over 650 scientific
papers in addition to textbook chapters, abstracts, and
proceedings of meetings.
Dr. Saif earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical
College in Lahore, Pakistan, and
completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in
Farmington, Connecticut. He
completed medical oncology and hematology fellowships at the
National Cancer Institute, National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute, National Institutes of Health, and National Naval
Medical Center in Bethesda,
Maryland.
View Dr. Saif's physician profile here. To learn more about
Phase 1 Clinical Trials or to request an appointment, visit
karmanos.org or call 1-800-KARMANOS.
About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer
Institute
Karmanos Cancer Institute is a leader in
transformative cancer care, research and education through courage,
commitment and compassion. The Karmanos vision is a world free of
cancer. As part of McLaren Health Care, Karmanos is the largest
provider of cancer care and research in Michigan. For more than 75 years, the
administrative and research headquarters, along with the premier
specialty cancer hospital, have been located in downtown
Detroit. With 16 network sites,
Karmanos delivers world-renowned care and access to clinical trials
throughout Michigan and northern
Ohio. The National Cancer
Institute recognizes Karmanos as one of the best cancer centers in
the nation with a comprehensive cancer center designation. Its
academic partnership with the Wayne State
University School of Medicine provides the framework for
cancer research and education – defining new standards of care and
improving survivorship. For more information, call 1-800-KARMANOS
(800-527-6266) or visit www.karmanos.org. Follow Karmanos
on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute