Deepak Nijhawan

Deepak Nijhawan, M.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at UT Southwestern with joint appointments in Biochemistry and Internal Medicine. He is recognized for pioneering work in cancer biology, chemical genetics, and drug discovery. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of small molecules, leading to therapeutic innovations such as tumor-selective inhibitors and molecular glues. He founded two biotech companies and holds five patents. Awards include the Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award and Harrington Scholar Innovator Award.

Education: B.A. in Neuroscience (Northwestern University), M.D./Ph.D. in Biochemistry (UT Southwestern), residency in Internal Medicine (Massachusetts General Hospital), and fellowship in Medical Oncology/Cancer Genomics (Dana-Farber).

Research interests center on uncovering small molecule mechanisms, developing chemical probes, and translating findings into therapies. Key areas include cancer targets like CYCLOPS genes and epigenetic regulators. Over 35 publications span chemical biology, oncology, and molecular mechanisms.

Awards and recognition highlight his contributions to drug discovery and translational oncology. Collaborative efforts with industry and academia drive preclinical programs and therapeutic development.