Dr. Brian Druker is a pioneering physician-scientist and the JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. Born on April 30, 1955, in St. Paul, Minnesota, he earned both his B.A. in chemistry and M.D. from the University of California, San Diego before completing his medical residency at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. He further honed his expertise through oncology training at Harvard's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where his research vision initially faced skepticism but ultimately propelled him to seek a supportive environment for his revolutionary ideas. In 1993, he joined Oregon Health & Science University at the invitation of Dr. Grover Bagby, who recognized the potential of his targeted therapy approach and provided the crucial institutional backing for his research program.
Dr. Druker pioneered the development of imatinib (Gleevec), the first precision cancer therapy that specifically targets the molecular defect driving chronic myeloid leukemia rather than indiscriminately attacking all rapidly dividing cells. His groundbreaking research demonstrated that by inhibiting the ABL tyrosine kinase molecular switch stuck in the on position in leukemia cells, it was possible to eliminate cancer cells while preserving healthy ones. After convincing Novartis to pursue clinical trials following five years of persistent advocacy, Gleevec gained FDA approval in record time in 2001, appearing on the cover of Time magazine as a transformative medical breakthrough. This revolutionary treatment approach has saved an estimated 350 000 lives globally and established the foundation for precision medicine, fundamentally changing how scientists approach cancer drug development across oncology.
The impact of Dr. Druker's work extends far beyond chronic myeloid leukemia, launching an entirely new era of targeted cancer therapies that now benefit patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors and five other cancers. His leadership as CEO of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, a position he will step down from in December 2024, has positioned it as a global epicenter for innovative cancer research, with his vision continuing to drive the field toward increasingly precise and effective treatments. Recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the Japan Prize, and the Albany Medical Center Prize, he remains actively advancing cancer medicine through initiatives like the Beat AML Master Clinical Trial. Today, Dr. Druker continues to champion the development of targeted therapies that promise to transform cancer from a fatal disease into a manageable condition, cementing his legacy as one of Oregon's most celebrated scientists and a transformative figure in modern oncology.
