Dr. Christos Vaklavas

Dr. Christos Vaklavas, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist and physician-scientist specializing in breast cancer and developmental therapeutics. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and is a key member of the Stephenson Cancer Center. Dr. Vaklavas earned his medical degree from the University of Athens in Greece, followed by internal medicine residency at Saint Francis Hospital and fellowship training in hematology and oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is recognized for his clinical expertise in advanced breast cancer and his contributions to early-phase clinical trials.

A dedicated translational researcher, Dr. Vaklavas focuses on the development of novel targeted therapies and biomarkers in breast cancer. His work integrates laboratory-based investigations with clinical applications, particularly in understanding mechanisms of resistance and therapeutic vulnerabilities in triple-negative breast cancer. He has been a principal investigator in multiple early-phase clinical trials and has contributed to studies evaluating CDK inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, and other pathway-directed therapies. His research aims to accelerate the transition of promising agents from bench to bedside, improving outcomes in treatment-resistant disease.

In addition to his research and clinical roles, Dr. Vaklavas is committed to academic mentorship and professional development. He actively mentors medical students, residents, and oncology fellows, with an emphasis on fostering careers in academic oncology. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and serves as a reviewer for multiple scientific publications. Dr. Vaklavas’s dual focus on innovation in cancer therapeutics and excellence in patient care underscores his impact on the evolving field of breast cancer treatment.