Dr. Daniel F. Hayes is a world-renowned clinical oncologist and leader in breast cancer research at the forefront of precision medicine. He currently serves as the Stuart B. Padnos Professor of Breast Cancer Research at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center and Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Hematology Oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Hayes received his undergraduate, master's, and medical degrees from Indiana University, followed by internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center and medical oncology fellowship at Harvard's Dana Farber Cancer Institute. His distinguished career spans leadership roles directing breast cancer programs at Dana Farber Cancer Institute from 1991 to 1996, Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center from 1996 to 2001, and the University of Michigan from 2001 to 2016, establishing him as a preeminent figure in the field of oncology.
Dr. Hayes has been a pioneering force in liquid biopsy research for over four decades, leading the first major report on the clinical significance of circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer that transformed diagnostic approaches. His groundbreaking work developing and validating cancer biomarker tests, including HER-2, CA15-3, circulating tumor cells, and pharmacogenomic markers, has established the scientific foundation for precision oncology and personalized breast cancer treatment. He organized the landmark combined report on liquid biopsies, including circulating tumor DNA, through collaboration between the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the College of American Pathologists, creating evidence-based guidelines that are now standard practice worldwide. With over 149,000 citations according to Google Scholar, his research has fundamentally reshaped clinical oncology by enabling doctors to determine tumor characteristics and treatment responses through minimally invasive blood tests rather than repeated tissue biopsies.
As a transformative leader, Dr. Hayes served on the American Society of Clinical Oncology Board of Directors and completed a three-year term as ASCO President, during which he was instrumental in establishing rigorous guidelines that fostered consistent FDA regulation of tumor biomarker tests. His dedication to patient-centered research is evident in his mentorship philosophy, where he consistently challenges trainees to focus on how their work will directly benefit patients, resulting in remarkable clinical outcomes with some metastatic breast cancer patients thriving for 10-15 years. Recognized with prestigious honors including the ASCO Gianni Bonadonna Award, the Allen Lichter Visionary Leadership Award, and the 2023 Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research, he remains actively engaged in advancing the field through his current research on single cell circulating tumor cell genomics in metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Hayes continues to shape the future of oncology by championing the development of innovative biomarkers that guide treatment decisions, ensuring his legacy of improving outcomes for breast cancer patients endures through the next generation of researchers he mentors.
