Eric J. Small

Dr. Eric J. Small is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. He is Co-Director of the Urologic Cancer Service, Co-Leader of the UCSF Prostate Cancer Program, and serves as Deputy Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. He previously served as Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology for a decade, underscoring his leadership in academic medicine.

• Medical Degree: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (1985)
• Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Internal Medicine (1988)
• Fellowship: UCSF, Hematology-Oncology (1991)

Dr. Small is a leading expert in genitourinary medical oncology, with a primary focus on prostate cancer. His research integrates clinical and translational approaches to understand therapy resistance, develop novel agents, and improve patient outcomes. He has pioneered early trials of androgen receptor inhibitors like ketoconazole, abiraterone, and apalutamide, and has been instrumental in advancing immunotherapies such as sipuleucel-T and ipilimumab for prostate cancer. A major focus of his work is elucidating the genomic and epigenomic mechanisms driving resistance in advanced disease, including lineage plasticity and the emergence of neuroendocrine phenotypes.

His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on precision oncology, integrating multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics) with clinical trial outcomes. Key themes include PARP inhibition in DNA repair-deficient cancers, BET bromodomain inhibition to block neuroendocrine differentiation, and the development of AI-driven digital pathology tools. His work frequently appears in top-tier journals such as Nature, The Lancet Oncology, and JAMA Oncology, demonstrating sustained impact across basic science, clinical research, and patient-centered outcomes.

• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (1984)
• UCSF Faculty Research Award (2001)
• Richard L. Schilsky CALGB Award (2011)
• UCSF Faculty Research Lecture (2011)
• Fellow of ASCO (FASCO) (2015)

Dr. Small has led major research initiatives, including a $10 million Stand Up to Cancer/Prostate Cancer Foundation Dream Team grant focused on genomic characterization of metastatic prostate cancer. He has served on the ASCO Board of Directors and chairs four external advisory boards for NCI-designated cancer centers, playing a significant role in shaping national cancer research policy. His work on patient navigation, financial reimbursement in clinical trials, and mobile health tools highlights a commitment to improving trial access and patient engagement. He advises or collaborates with numerous researchers, particularly within the UCSF Prostate Cancer Program and the SU2C/PCF Dream Team.

Dr. Small leads a multidisciplinary research program focused on advancing prostate cancer therapeutics through genomic insights and innovative clinical trial designs. His leadership extends across institutional research strategy, national consensus guidelines (via APCCC), and collaborative science aimed at overcoming treatment resistance.