Robert Maki Moves to Leadership Role at Northwell Health Cancer Institute

Robert G. Maki, MD, PhD

Robert G. Maki, MD, PhD

Sarcoma physician and researcher Robert G. Maki, MD, PhD, has joined the leadership team at Northwell Health Cancer Institute.

Maki will serve as director of experimental therapeutics of the Don Monti Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and director of the Center for New Cancer Therapies at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute.

Maki is currently a professor of hematology/oncology at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and a professor and member of the National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL).

Maki has extensive experience in the development of novel therapies that attack molecular targets for the treatment of soft tissue and bone sarcomas. In his new role, Maki will play a key role in the strategic affiliation between Northwell and CSHL, which was established in 2015 to accelerate cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment, according to a new release from CSHL.

Additionally, he will oversee the expansion of the basic and translational sarcoma research program in collaboration with CSHL. CSHL and Northwell Health’s academic oncologists and clinicians are planning to pursue bench-to-bedside research and clinical trials to improve the outcome of patients with this aggressive cancer using promising new agents.

“We are pleased that Maki will lead the joint Northwell Health Care Institute—CSHL initiative to establish a cancer clinical research center that will greatly facilitate the ability to translate the outstanding basic science at CSHL into the clinic, enabling assessment of the effectiveness of new therapies in patients,” said Bruce Stillman, PhD, the president and CEO of CSHL, in a statement.

Maki’s new position will include building a portfolio of clinical research and exploring unique therapeutics for all cancers, which will increase cutting-edge treatment options for patients throughout the healthcare system.

“Maki is a highly esteemed oncologist and researcher, who has made a lifelong commitment to finding a cure for sarcoma,” said Lawrence Smith, MD, Northwell Health’s physician-in-chief and dean of the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, in a statement. “His new leadership role marks an exciting time in the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory-Northwell Health strategic collaboration, enabling us to focus our expertise on developing new clinical trials and treatment options more quickly to help patients fighting sarcoma and other complex cancers.”