Jeffrey P. Ward, MD, PhD

Jeffrey P. Ward, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

Address:
Division of Oncology
Mail Stop 8056-0021-09
Washington University
660 South Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

9934 Wohl Clinic (office)
9934 Wohl Clinic (lab)

Admin:
Sara Meyer
sara.m@wustl.edu

Clinical Interests
  • Thoracic malignancies
Research Interests
  • Tumor Immunology
  • Neoantigens
  • Immunotherapy
Research

The clinical development and successful introduction into practice of immune checkpoint inhibitors that reinvigorate a patient’s own immune cells to target tumors have revolutionized the treatment paradigm for those with lung cancer. However, the fact remains that many patients will not benefit from current cancer immunotherapies, and a better understanding of the interactions between lymphocytes, tumor cells, and the cells that make up the tumor microenvironment will be required to move towards the next generation of therapeutics.

My research focuses on the identification of tumor specific mutant antigens recognized by the immune system as foreign that serve as the target of a T-cell response against tumors. We take advantage of cancer genomics and bioinformatics techniques to detect tumor-specific mutations that accumulate during transformation and use this information to predict which mutations are potentially antigenic. We then use these predictions to validate those that elicit T-cell responses. In preclinical models, personalized vaccines targeting neoantigens trigger potent anti-tumor immune responses leading to rejection of established tumors, providing proof of principle that a similar strategy may prove successful for patients.

Clinically, I focus on the care of patients with thoracic malignancies, with a special emphasis on clinical and translational trials of novel immunotherapies.

Profiles (publications)
WU Physician Bio

Biosketch

Education

  • 2010-2002: MD, PhD, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
  • 2002-1998: BS in Biology and BA in Spanish (Chemistry minor) summa cum laude, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA

Post-Graduate Training

  • 2016-2012: Fellow, Hematology and Oncology, Physician-Scientist Training Program, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2012-2011: Resident, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
  • 2011-2010: Intern, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO

Academic Positions & Employment

  • present-2019: Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2019-2016: Instructor, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Board Certification

  • 2016: ABIM Certification: Medical Oncology
  • 2013: ABIM Certification: Internal Medicine

Honors & Awards

  • 2021: Arthur and Sandra Irving Cancer Immunology Symposium
  • 2018: HemOnc Today Next Gen Innovator
  • 2016-2010: Physician-Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine
  • 2015: ASH Travel Award
  • 2015: Matthew Arquette Academic Achievement Award
  • 2015-2014: Co-Chief Fellow, Divisions of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2013: AHA Heart-Saver Hero Award

Review Committees

  • 2021: NIH-Scientific Reviewer, ad hoc, NCI Special Emphasis Panel, Clinical & Translational Cancer Research
  • 2021: NIH-Scientific Reviewer, ad hoc, NCI Subcommittee J – Career Development
  • 2020: Siteman Investment Program Reviewer

Professional Societies & Organizations

  • American College of Physicians
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
  • American Association for Cancer Research
  • Central Society for Clinical and Translational Research