Tumor immunologist Patrick Hwu, MD, has been appointed the new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Moffitt Cancer Center. He joins Moffitt from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is Division Head of Cancer Medicine. Dr. Hwu begins his new role at Moffitt on November 10.
Patrick Hwu, MD
Tim Adams
“Dr. Hwu is truly a cancer visionary, ready to elevate Moffitt to even greater success,” said Tim Adams, Chair of Moffitt’s Institute Board of Directors. “Drawing from his innovative cancer research, quality patient care, and extensive leadership experience, Dr. Hwu will no doubt continue to help Moffitt in our pursuit of dynamic growth and groundbreaking work.”
“It is my distinct honor and privilege to be selected as the next President and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center, which has made unprecedented strides in its 34 years in the prevention and treatment of cancer,” Dr. Hwu said. “I look forward to bringing my years of experience as a cancer physician, researcher, and leader to help advance the outstanding work already underway by the teams of cancer experts at Florida’s top-ranked cancer hospital. I’m confident that our collective efforts will further elevate Moffitt’s leadership in cancer patient care, research, and education.”
Professional Experience
Dr. Hwu brings 33 years of oncology experience to Moffitt. He held various leadership roles during 17 years at MD Anderson, including Chair of the Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology and Co-Director of the Center for Cancer Immunology Research. He was the first Chair of the Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology.
Known for leading transformative research into the clinic, Dr. Hwu helped pioneer the field of gene-modified T cells, publishing research on the first chimeric antigen receptor directed against cancer. His work focuses on vaccines, adoptive T-cell therapies, and immune resistance. He is the principal investigator on a National Institutes of Health SPORE grant for melanoma and has more than 270 peer-reviewed publications.
As Vice President/President Elect of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, Dr. Hwu also serves on the Melanoma Research Alliance Foundation Medical Advisory Panel in Washington, DC.
