Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD
Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD, is the new Chair of Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. Previously, he served as Consultant in Oncology, Professor of Oncology and Professor of Pharmacology at Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Adjei also oversaw oncology drug development, as well as lung cancer research and treatment across various Mayo Clinic sites. Additionally, he co-led the developmental therapeutics program at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.
Throughout his career, Dr. Adjei has focused his research on experimental therapeutics, regulatory science, and clinical drug development. His other research interests include health disparities, global oncology, new drug treatments for lung cancer, and the varying effects of drug toxicities. A multidisciplinary team of clinical and translational researchers under Dr. Adjei’s leadership has evaluated new drug therapies for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
Dr. Adjei’s Background
Prior to his most recent role, Dr. Adjei served as the Katharine Anne Gioia Chair in Cancer Medicine, Senior Vice President of Clinical Research, Chairman of the Department of Medicine, and Professor of Oncology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.
“Thankfully, with recent scientific advances, we are making progress toward understanding, preventing, and treating all forms of cancers. I’m truly honored and excited to have the opportunity to work with this team of talented professionals and help position Cleveland Clinic at the forefront of cancer care,” said Dr. Adjei.
Dr. Adjei has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, in addition to books, book chapters, and abstracts, and has given numerous presentations throughout the United States and internationally. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology and the JTO Clinical and Research Reports.
A native of Ghana, Dr. Adjei earned his medical degree from the University of Ghana Medical School and his PhD from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. He was Chief Resident in the Department of Medicine at Howard University, and he completed a clinical fellowship as a clinical and research fellow in oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Hospital.
Dr. Adjei succeeds Jame Abraham, MD, who has served as Interim Chair of Taussig Cancer Institute since May 2021. Dr. Abraham will continue in his role as Chair of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Taussig Cancer Institute.
