Vivek Subbiah, MD
Vivek Subbiah, MD, has been appointed as the inaugural associate director for drug development and precision oncology at the Stanford Cancer Institute, with a planned start date in spring 2026. In this role, he will lead the Early Drug Development Program to expand access to innovative treatments for Stanford cancer patients through phase 1 trials, targeted therapeutics, and study designs that match patients to treatments based on biological markers.
Dr. Subbiah is an internationally recognized leader in tumor-agnostic precision oncology, in which therapies target a tumor’s specific genetic alterations regardless of its site of origin. He is the principal investigator of more than 150 phase I/II trials, a collaborator on more than 250 additional studies, and an author on over 450 peer-reviewed publications. His work has been central in the clinical development of multiple first-in-human therapies and has helped shift cancer therapeutic strategies from an organ-based approach to one guided by molecular profiling of the tumor. These efforts have led to regulatory approvals and changes in clinical practice, expanding treatment options for patients who previously had few or no effective therapies.
He joins Stanford after serving as chief of early-phase drug development at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, where he oversaw nine drug development units implementing first-in-human clinical trials and led the expansion of early-phase capabilities across a network of more than 1,300 physicians at over 250 locations in 24 states. Previously, he held leadership roles at MD Anderson Cancer Center, serving as the executive director of medical oncology research and the clinical medical director of the phase 1 program.
His addition represents an important opportunity to further advance Stanford’s national leadership in early drug development and precision oncology, enhance access to transformative therapies, and strengthen the integration of discovery, translational research, and patient-centered care.”
Steven Artandi, MD, PhD, director of the Stanford Cancer Institute, said, “Dr. Subbiah’s work has helped redefine the landscape of early-phase oncology and precision therapeutics. Under his guidance, we look forward to continuing to advance Stanford’s national leadership in early drug development and precision oncology, enhancing access to innovative therapies, and forging new links among discovery, translational research, and patient-centered care.”
Subbiah will also join Stanford Health Care as the executive medical director for cancer novel therapies and clinical trial network development, where he will provide strategic leadership to grow clinical trial infrastructure, accelerate evaluation of cutting-edge treatments, and strengthen regional and national research partnerships. Additionally, he will assume a professorship within the Stanford Medicine Division of Oncology.
Heather Wakelee, MD, chief of the Division of Oncology and deputy director of the Stanford Cancer Institute, said, “Dr. Subbiah has influenced global approaches in early drug development, biomarker integration, and the translation of targeted agents from discovery into clinical practice. He has directed major early-phase programs at leading cancer centers, guided nationwide cancer drug-development networks, and built operations that enabled rapid activation and execution of complex, multicenter trials. We look forward to the contributions he will make at Stanford.”
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025, Subbiah has received numerous awards, including the Emil Frei III Award for Excellence in Translational Research, delivered plenary and keynote presentations at major conferences, and shaped the global direction of precision oncology through leadership roles and committee memberships within eminent professional organizations, such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, and European Society for Medical Oncology.
Of his appointment, Subbiah said, “I am honored to lead Stanford’s first enterprise-wide program for drug development and precision oncology. This is an exciting opportunity to grow a world-class research initiative while keeping patients at the heart of our efforts. Our goal is to bring promising new therapies from the lab to the clinic as efficiently and safely as possible, so that patients benefit from the latest advances in cancer treatment at the moment they need them most.”
