Jonathan M. Hernandez

Dr. Jonathan M. Hernandez is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at George Washington University and an Associate Professor of Surgery at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He serves as an Investigator in the Surgical Oncology Program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)/Center for Cancer Research (CCR) at NIH, where he leads the Liver Metastasis Biology Section and Surgical Oncology Section. His work bridges clinical practice and translational research in hepatic metastases and complex abdominal cancers.

• Education: M.D. (University of Florida, with honors)
• Residency: General Surgery (University of South Florida)
• Fellowships: Surgical Oncology and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Dr. Hernandez’s research focuses on liver metastases from colorectal and neuroendocrine cancers, primary biliary tract malignancies, and adrenocortical carcinomas. His lab employs ex-vivo human tumor systems and exosome studies to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities, with emphasis on locoregional drug delivery and miRNA mechanisms. Current projects include pre-metastatic niche formation and spatial tissue phenotyping via IBEX imaging.

His selected publications highlight 2020 studies on extracellular vesicle biomarkers and IBEX imaging, alongside 2015 landmark works on exosome-driven metastasis. These works span cancer biology, cell biology, and clinical oncology.

• Scientific Awards: Distinguished Clinical Teacher (2023)

Dr. Hernandez mentors surgical residents and has authored over 175 peer-reviewed publications. His lab at NIH, established in 2016, has hosted 20 surgical residents. He leads clinical trials in cholangiocarcinoma, metastatic colorectal cancer, and adrenocortical carcinoma, including Phase 2 trials for gemcitabine/oxaliplatin chemotherapy and PDS01ADC combinations.