Dr. E. Claire Dees

Dr. E. Claire Dees, MD, is a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer and early-phase clinical trials. She serves as Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine and is a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Dees earned her medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Rochester, and pursued fellowship training in hematology and oncology at UNC. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology and is widely recognized for her expertise in translating novel therapeutics from the laboratory to the clinic.

Dr. Dees’s research focuses on phase I clinical trials for solid tumors, with an emphasis on targeted therapies and immunotherapies for breast cancer. She has been a principal investigator on numerous early-phase studies evaluating kinase inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and combination regimens aimed at overcoming resistance to standard treatments. Her work also includes the development of clinical trial designs that optimize dose-finding and biomarker integration, ensuring that promising therapies are advanced efficiently.

In addition to her clinical research leadership, Dr. Dees is an educator and mentor for medical students, residents, and oncology fellows. She has served in leadership roles within the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and has contributed to national breast cancer research collaborations. Through her dedication to clinical innovation and mentorship, Dr. E. Claire Dees continues to advance the development of new cancer therapies and improve care for patients with breast cancer.