Brian Wolpin Named Robert T. and Judith B. Hale Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at Dana-Farber

Brian Wolpin, MD, MPH

Brian Wolpin, MD, MPH

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has announced Brian Wolpin, MD, MPH, has been appointed Robert T. and Judith B. Hale Chair in Pancreatic Cancer.

Wolpin is co-director of the Pancreas and Biliary Tumor Center at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He succeeds Charles Fuchs, MD, who has held the position since it was established in 2013.

“I am honored to serve as the Robert T. and Judith B. Hale Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at Dana-Farber and am extremely grateful for the Hale family’s generosity and vision in supporting work to tackle pancreatic cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer death in the United States,” Wolpin said.

Wolpin’s research group is focused on understanding the factors that promote initiation and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, according to a news release from Dana-Farber. The studies he is involved in include evaluation of blood-based circulating markers, germline alterations, and somatic alterations in hundreds to thousands of subjects. This work is being done with the goal of translating cutting-edge laboratory science into approaches for early detection of pancreatic cancer and new treatments for patients with this malignancy.

Wolpin earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency training in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He completed fellowship training in medical oncology at Dana-Farber and returned to Brigham and Women’s Hospital to serve as chief medical resident. He received his Master’s Degree in Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health.

Wolpin’s clinical practice involves the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancers, with a particular focus on pancreatic cancer. He holds several leadership positions related to clinical expertise, including membership on the NCI Pancreas Cancer Task Force, Alliance/CALGB Gastrointestinal Cancer Committee, and NCCN Guidelines Committee for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

“It’s an honor to appoint Dr. Wolpin to the Robert T. and Judith B. Hale Chair,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, president and CEO at Dana-Farber. “He continues to expand and accelerate his research efforts in pancreatic cancer, translating discoveries into effective early detection and treatment options for patients.”