Benjamin Drapkin

Benjamin Drapkin, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he has been a faculty member since 2020. He specializes in the Division of Hematology and Oncology with a clinical focus on lung cancer, particularly small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Dr. Drapkin completed his M.D. and Ph.D. in cell biology and genetics through the Tri-Institutional M.D.-Ph.D. Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, Rockefeller University, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He undertook residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital and a hematology/oncology fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital. He is board-certified in medical oncology.

His research program centers on translational approaches for SCLC and neuroendocrine tumors, utilizing patient-derived xenograft models to identify novel therapeutic targets. Key investigations include molecular drivers of tumorigenesis, therapy resistance mechanisms (particularly to PARP inhibitors and platinum drugs), chromatin remodeling complexes, and immunotherapeutic strategies. His laboratory focuses on bridging preclinical findings to clinical trials.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) reveals dominant themes in SCLC biology, including: molecular characterization of neuroendocrine subtypes, DNA repair mechanisms, epigenetic regulators (SWI/SNF complex, histone demethylases), MYC paralogs, and innovative therapeutic approaches like telomere-targeting agents. His work consistently integrates basic science with clinical translation.

Scientific recognitions include:

• University of Texas Lung Cancer SPORE Career Enhancement Program Award (2020)
• NIH K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (2020)

Dr. Drapkin leads an active research laboratory investigating SCLC pathogenesis and therapeutic vulnerabilities using patient-derived models. His team collaborates extensively with clinical oncology units to advance translational applications.