Stephen Spurgeon

Dr. Stephen Spurgeon serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Medicine, where he directs clinical and laboratory research within the Center for Hematologic Malignancies. Board-certified in Internal Medicine since 2005, he maintains active clinical practice at OHSU's Center for Health & Healing and Knight Cancer Institute.

His educational background includes an M.D. from Jefferson Medical College (2002), followed by residency (2002-2005) and hematology/oncology fellowship (2006-2009) at OHSU. As a member of the American Society of Oncology, he maintains clinical expertise in treating lymphoid malignancies while leading translational research initiatives.

Dr. Spurgeon's research focuses on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma, with four primary emphases: (1) elucidating cell signaling pathways in lymphoid cancer pathogenesis, particularly B-cell receptor-mediated tyrosine kinase activity; (2) identifying novel therapeutic targets; (3) developing innovative clinical trials; and (4) designing personalized treatment approaches. His laboratory work investigates kinase-directed therapies and in vitro drug screening to predict clinical responses in CLL, while his clinical trials explore epigenetic combinations like cladribine/rituximab/vorinostat for relapsed B-cell malignancies.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong focus on BTK inhibitors (ibrutinib), epigenetic modulators (vorinostat), and combination strategies for lymphoid malignancies. His work spans basic mechanisms of drug resistance (PLCG2 variants), clinical management of treatment toxicities (hypertension with ibrutinib), and immunological aspects of therapy (vaccine responses in CLL). The research consistently bridges laboratory findings with clinical applications, particularly in mantle cell lymphoma and CLL subtypes.

Scientific recognition includes:

• American Board of Internal Medicine Certification (2005)
• Leadership in multi-institutional clinical trials (e.g., NEJM-published ibrutinib study)
• Extensive collaborative work with OHSU colleagues including Dr. Brian Druker and Dr. Craig Okada

His clinical practice involves mentoring junior physicians and collaborating with the Center for Cell Signaling on kinase-targeted therapies. Current research priorities include DNA methylation patterns in epigenetic therapy, personalized kinase inhibitor approaches, and improving vaccine efficacy in immunocompromised leukemia patients. Dr. Spurgeon maintains active laboratory investigations while directing clinical trials that translate molecular findings into novel treatment regimens for lymphoid malignancies.