Dr. Robert Kerbel is an internationally renowned Cancer Biologist and leading authority in tumor biology and angiogenesis research with over four decades of distinguished scientific contributions. He currently holds the position of Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto and serves as Senior Scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute, where he has established himself as a pivotal figure in oncology research. Dr. Kerbel earned his PhD in immunology from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, in 1972, followed by postdoctoral training in tumor immunology at the Chester Beatty Research Institute in London, England. His illustrious career began in 1975 at Queen's University where he established his independent research program, later serving as Director of the Cancer Biology Program before transitioning to Mount Sinai Hospital in 1985 and subsequently to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in 1991.
Dr. Kerbel's pioneering research has fundamentally reshaped cancer therapeutics through his groundbreaking development of combinatorial low-dose 'metronomic' chemotherapy with antiangiogenic drugs, which represents a paradigm shift in treating metastatic disease by significantly improving efficacy while reducing treatment toxicity. His laboratory made seminal contributions to linking the fields of angiogenesis and oncogenes, developing sophisticated preclinical models for both early-stage and advanced metastatic disease, and elucidating critical mechanisms by which antiangiogenic drugs enhance chemotherapy efficacy and overcome therapeutic resistance. With over 72,000 citations according to Google Scholar, his work has established foundational principles that have directly influenced clinical practice and therapeutic development across the oncology field. His translational research on tumor biology and angiogenesis has opened new therapeutic avenues for cancer patients worldwide.
As a dedicated mentor and scientific leader, Dr. Kerbel has supervised over forty graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have become successful research scientists in academia and industry, significantly expanding the impact of his scientific legacy. He has received sustained funding from major organizations including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the National Cancer Institute of Canada, the National Institutes of Health, and numerous foundations, demonstrating the enduring relevance and impact of his work. Holding a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Tumor Biology, Angiogenesis and Antiangiogenic Therapy from 2001 to 2015, Dr. Kerbel continues to advance the field through his ongoing investigations into therapeutic resistance mechanisms and innovative treatment strategies. His continued leadership keeps him at the forefront of developing more effective therapies for metastatic cancer, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential cancer researchers of his generation.
