Iris Dirven

Iris Dirven is a Clinical Professor in Medical Oncology at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Brussels (VUB). She is affiliated with the Translational Oncology Research Center and UZB (Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel). Her primary research focuses on melanoma therapies, immunotherapy combinations, and biomarker development in oncology. She leads clinical trials evaluating targeted therapies like regorafenib and checkpoint inhibitors (ipilimumab/nivolumab) in advanced cancers.

Her research spans

• Mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies
• Novel drug delivery methods for brain tumors
• Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for leptomeningeal metastases
• Patient-reported outcomes in immunotherapy-treated cancer survivors

Recent work emphasizes translational research bridging clinical trials (Phase I/II) with molecular diagnostics. She co-leads the AIIFUND147 project on melanoma therapies (2025). Awards include the 2022 Best poster Award for melanoma research.

Grants include EU-funded initiatives on immunotherapy combinations. She collaborates widely in Belgium and Europe, with active participation in ESMO Congress and public lectures on melanoma treatment advancements.