Ezra Cohen

Ezra Cohen, MD is an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, where he serves in the Division of Hematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation. He is a prominent researcher and clinician specializing in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, with a particular focus on developing and implementing novel immunotherapeutic approaches.

Dr. Cohen's research program centers on advancing precision immunotherapy for head and neck cancer through multiple interconnected avenues. His laboratory investigates fundamental mechanisms of tumor-immune interactions, particularly spontaneous neoantigen-specific T cell responses, while simultaneously translating these findings into clinical applications. His work bridges basic immunology, translational research, and clinical trials to develop more effective treatment strategies for patients with head and neck cancer.

Analysis of Dr. Cohen's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on biomarker development, combination immunotherapies, and understanding resistance mechanisms to current treatments. His research spans from fundamental immunological investigations to large phase III clinical trials, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to advancing head and neck cancer treatment.

• National Institutes of Health R01CA247551: Co-targeting the HER3 oncogenic signaling circuitry and PD-1 as a novel multimodal precision immunotherapy for HNSCC (Co-PI, 2019-2024)
• National Institutes of Health R01CA226909: Therapeutic Targeting of Macrophage PI3Kgamma in HNSCC (Co-PI, 2018-2023)
• National Institutes of Health U01CA217885: A Rational Systematic Approach to Find Combinations of Pharmacologic and Immune Therapies (Co-PI, 2017-2022)

Dr. Cohen maintains an active clinical practice focused on treating patients with head and neck cancers while leading multiple clinical trials that offer cutting-edge therapeutic approaches. His work has significantly contributed to establishing immunotherapy as a standard treatment option for head and neck cancer patients and continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in precision oncology for this disease.