Kenneth Cowan

Kenneth H. Cowan, MD, PhD is a Professor in the Division of Oncology and Hematology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Department of Internal Medicine, and holds a concurrent professorship at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases. He serves as Lead Investigator of the Integrated Cancer Repository for Cancer Research. Previously, he directed both the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Eppley Institute.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree: University of Rochester (NY)
• Medical Degree and PhD: Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
• Residency: Internal Medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital (Dallas, TX)
• Fellowship: Oncology at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Research Focus:
Dr. Cowan’s work centers on breast cancer, particularly gene therapy strategies using adenoviral vectors to overexpress tumor suppressor genes (e.g., BRCA1) in breast cancer cells. His lab investigates mechanisms of multi-drug resistance in tumors and seeks to enhance chemotherapy efficacy via gene-modified hematopoietic stem cells. Key goals include long-term reconstitution of patients with resistant cells to withstand higher chemotherapy doses.

Clinical Appointments:

• Nebraska Medicine
• Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
• Cancer Center at Village Pointe Health Center

Professional Contributions:
He has authored over 240 scientific publications and is a frequent invited speaker at international conferences. His research bridges basic science (cell cycle regulation, apoptosis) and clinical translation (gene therapy trials).