Waldemar Debinski

Waldemar Debinski is a Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, affiliated with multiple departments including Cancer Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Radiation Oncology, and Neurological Surgery. He leads the Debinski Lab, which focuses on molecular markers for brain tumors and targeted therapies.

• MD (1981) – Academy of Medicine
• PhD (1989) – McGill University

His research spans translational oncology, with a focus on glioblastoma (GBM), receptor-based therapies, and convection-enhanced delivery (CED). He discovered the IL-13RA2 receptor as a GBM-specific marker and developed the QUAD-DM1 cytotoxin for multi-receptor targeting. His work integrates phenotypic tumor heterogeneity, large animal models, and combinatorial therapies.

Recent publications highlight his emphasis on translational applications, combining interleukin receptors, ephrin receptors, and CED in preclinical and clinical trials. His studies often leverage canine models of spontaneous brain tumors to bridge veterinary and human medicine.

• Tom and Laura Hearn Professor for the Brain Tumor Center of Excellence (2019)

Collaborating with Dr. John Rossmeisl, Debinski has advanced targeted cytotoxins for GBM, including Phase III clinical trials for recurrent glioblastoma. His lab’s work underpins precision medicine strategies and novel drug delivery systems tested in both human and veterinary clinical settings.