Dr. Jeffrey S. Weber was a distinguished oncologist and immunotherapy expert who served as the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Professor of Oncology and Deputy Director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health. Born in Brooklyn in 1952, he earned his BA in Biology from Columbia University before completing his MD and PhD through the NYU Medical Scientist Training Program with doctoral work mentored by James E. Darnell Jr. at Rockefeller University. Following his medical training at UC San Diego and fellowship at the National Cancer Institute under Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg, Dr. Weber established a remarkable career trajectory that included over a decade as a leader at USC's Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and eight years as Director of the Donald A. Adam Comprehensive Melanoma Research Center at Moffitt Cancer Center. He joined NYU Langone in 2015, bringing his unparalleled expertise in melanoma therapeutics to further strengthen one of the nation's elite National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers.
Dr. Weber pioneered groundbreaking advances in melanoma immunotherapy that transformed clinical practice worldwide, particularly through his leadership in developing checkpoint inhibitors that revolutionized cancer treatment. He was a leading investigator for critical trials examining anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies, most notably serving as principal investigator for the landmark CheckMate 238 phase III trial that established nivolumab as the first adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy for stage III melanoma, fundamentally changing the standard of care. His research also significantly advanced BRAF-targeted therapies through his role as senior investigator in the phase III trial of dabrafenib plus trametinib, while simultaneously pioneering the development of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy as a viable treatment modality for melanoma patients. Dr. Weber's work bridged the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications, resulting in multiple practice-changing therapies that dramatically improved survival rates for patients with advanced melanoma.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Weber was celebrated for his exceptional mentorship and collaborative leadership, nurturing the careers of numerous high-profile investigators who have become leaders in the field of melanoma research. He served on the Melanoma Research Foundation's Scientific Advisory Council and its Breakthrough Consortium, a network of 23 centers of excellence dedicated to accelerating promising melanoma therapies. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, he received the Giants of Cancer Care award in Melanoma in 2016 and the Melanoma Research Foundation's Humanitarian Award in 2019 for his exceptional work in melanoma detection and treatment. Even while battling pancreatic cancer during his final years, Dr. Weber remained actively engaged in research, contributing to the successful renewal of the Perlmutter Cancer Center's NCI comprehensive status until just weeks before his passing on August 18, 2024, leaving behind an enduring legacy that continues to shape melanoma research and patient care worldwide.
