Dr. Brian J. Druker

Dr. Brian J. Druker, MD, is an internationally acclaimed oncologist and physician-scientist best known for the development of imatinib (Gleevec), the first molecularly targeted therapy for cancer. He serves as Director of the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where he also holds the JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research. Dr. Druker earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego, and completed residency in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, followed by a fellowship in oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.

Dr. Druker’s research revolutionized the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) by demonstrating that a single genetic mutation could be effectively targeted with a small-molecule inhibitor, laying the foundation for the field of precision oncology. His leadership in the development and clinical testing of imatinib not only extended survival dramatically for CML patients but also catalyzed a new era in targeted cancer therapies across multiple tumor types. He continues to lead research into kinase signaling and drug resistance mechanisms in hematologic malignancies.

A member of the National Academy of Medicine and recipient of numerous awards including the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, Dr. Druker is recognized as one of the most influential cancer researchers of his generation. He remains deeply involved in mentoring early-career scientists and in promoting collaborative research to translate discoveries into treatments. Through his groundbreaking work and ongoing leadership, Dr. Brian Druker has helped reshape the landscape of cancer therapy worldwide.