Thomas E. Witzig, M.D.

Location

Contact

SUMMARY

Thomas E. Witzig, M.D., has been a hematologist-oncologist for more than three decades, and has led a translational research laboratory since 1986. His research is focused on translational research in multiple myeloma and lymphoma.

Dr. Witzig's current focus is on the development of targeted agents for the treatment of malignant lymphoma. Specifically, his team is focusing on identifying the signaling pathways used by lymphoma cells to grow and survive, and on preclinical evaluation of agents to target those pathways.

Dr. Witzig has also contributed to many clinical trials, ranging from phase I to phase III. These trials include radioimmunotherapy, novel immunotherapy and chemotherapy agents, addition of novel agents to standard therapy, and translational research with biomarker analysis.

Focus areas

• Lymphoma Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant. Dr. Witzig is the principal investigator for Mayo Clinic in the National Institutes of Health Lymphoma SPORE grant, carried out in collaboration by Mayo Clinic and the University of Iowa. He is also the principal investigator of a project within the SPORE grant, investigating the role of JAK-STAT signaling in lymphoma and developing new therapies that interfere with this signaling.
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Dr. Witzig was the principal investigator of a recent National Cancer Institute grant aimed at targeting tumor metabolism in aggressive B-cell lymphoma. The overall goal of the project was to profile lymphomas to identify growth-limiting metabolites and to access the potential of glycogen synthase kinase 3 as a therapeutic target in lymphoma.
• Lymphoma outcomes epidemiology. Dr. Witzig is co-investigator on a National Cancer Institute grant aimed at establishing and maintaining a cohort of over 12,000 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The cohort supports a broad research agenda aimed at identifying novel clinical, epidemiologic, host genetic, tumor and treatment factors that significantly influence non-Hodgkin's lymphoma prognosis and survivorship.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Witzig's long-term research goal is to improve understanding of the mechanisms of lymphoma growth and disruption to open the door to more-effective therapies and improved outcomes.

Professional highlights

• Deputy director for Clinical and Translational Research, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2015-present.
• Co-chair, Lymphoma Steering Committee, National Clinical Trials Network, National Cancer Institute, 2014-present.
• Co-chair, Lymphoma Translational Medicine Subcommittee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, 2009-present.
• Barbara Woodward Lips Professor I, Mayo Clinic, 2023.
• Co-chair, Hematologic Malignancies Program, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2007-2015.
• Recipient, Henry S. Plummer Distinguished Physician Award, Mayo Clinic, 2014.