Martha A. Zeiger, M.D.
Director

Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute

About Our Program

Our clinical trials focus on gastrointestinal cancers (stomach, small bowel, colon/rectum, liver, pancreas and bile duct) as well as endocrine cancers (thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, gastrointestinal tract and pancreas) and a myriad of endocrine tumor syndromes. Expertise in both diagnosis and treatment is necessary to provide patients with the best possible outcomes. Patients require experts in the fields of surgical oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, medical oncology, radiation therapy, interventional radiology and more. Members of our surgical team have partnered together, providing patient care for over ten years. It is our seamless and integrated approach to cancer treatment as well as cutting edge clinical protocols and research that is the greatest benefit to our patients.

Patient Services

Dr. Jeremy Davis and a group of women surgeons

As part of our multidisciplinary approach to patient care, we provide a number of natural history and treatment protocols for cancers and endocrine tumors. For instance, we offer innovative surgical procedures, molecular analysis of tumors, and targeted drug therapies. Patients are provided guidance and assistance with appointments, travel, counseling and social support. We believe it is important to collaborate with our patients' primary care and referring physicians in order to provide expert continuity of care. Before visiting, patients may be asked to provide medical records, discs with scans or x-ray studies and a list of medications.

The following are Important facts for our patients:

  • Consultations are provided at no cost to the patient
  • After a patient is accepted onto a study, treatment and tests performed at NIH are also no cost to the patient
  • NIH does not cover the cost of medical services provided at other facilities
  • We are located in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C.
  • Our clinics are located in the NIH Clinical Center (Building 10)
  • Visitor information is available at NIH Clinical Center
  • Questions?Visit NIH Clinical Research Trials and You.

Make an Appointment:

Surgical Oncology
Ph: 240.858.3610
surgicaloncology@nih.gov

Endocrine Onocology
Ph: 240.858.3020
endocrinesurgery@nih.gov

Our oncology nurses, nurse practitioners and patient care coordinators can help you understand the rationale behind our clinical trials. Their knowledge and expertise helps guide patients and their families through our clinical protocols and provides reassurance by carefully explaining treatment plans. When surgery is indicated, state-of-the-art procedures are explained by surgeons with expertise in the field of oncology. Skilled physicians and allied professionals in genetics, nutrition, pharmacology, nuclear imaging, interventional radiology and gastroenterology are all part of the multi-disciplinary management of our patients.

 

Our Teams

Our Research Interests

  • Dr. Martha Zeiger is an internationally renowned endocrine surgeon and scientist who has been a leader in developing molecular diagnostics for thyroid cancer. Her research focuses on TERT gene expression regulation, molecular marker diagnostic panel development and molecular biological aspects of thyroid cancer development. She also leads a team studying and designing future pathways for the professional development of surgeon-scientists.
  • Dr. Jonathan Hernandez is a surgical oncologist and hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon whose research efforts focus on elucidating the mechanisms through which tumor cells coopt the microenvironment of distant organs to form life-threatening metastases in order to interrupt this process prior to its completion. 
  • Dr. Jeremy Davis is a surgical oncologist whose research focuses on sporadic and inherited forms of stomach cancer, specifically those caused by germline mutations in the CDH1 gene. Dr. Davis is recognized both nationally and internationally as an expert in CDH1 and the Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer syndrome. His research is focused on understanding the molecular underpinnings of gastric cancer development and metastasis. Dr. Davis is board certified in both Complex General Surgical Oncology and General Surgery.
  • Dr. Naris Nilubol is a surgeon-scientist specialized in endocrine oncology surgery and clinical research involving thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and neuroendocrine tumors. His laboratory research focus includes the identification of novel targeted therapeutics in endocrine cancers and novel cancer drug delivery methods by targeting tumor microenvironment.
  • Dr. Samira Sadowski specializes in endocrine surgery and her research focuses on the identification of diagnostic and prognostic markers for endocrine tumors and developing new therapies for such tumors.
  • Dr. Andrew Blakely is a surgical oncologist specializing in peritoneal surface and retroperitoneal malignancies. A primary focus of his research is to develop novel treatment approaches and modalities to improve pre-operative treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

About

About Our Program

Our clinical trials focus on gastrointestinal cancers (stomach, small bowel, colon/rectum, liver, pancreas and bile duct) as well as endocrine cancers (thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, gastrointestinal tract and pancreas) and a myriad of endocrine tumor syndromes. Expertise in both diagnosis and treatment is necessary to provide patients with the best possible outcomes. Patients require experts in the fields of surgical oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, medical oncology, radiation therapy, interventional radiology and more. Members of our surgical team have partnered together, providing patient care for over ten years. It is our seamless and integrated approach to cancer treatment as well as cutting edge clinical protocols and research that is the greatest benefit to our patients.

For Patients

Patient Services

Dr. Jeremy Davis and a group of women surgeons

As part of our multidisciplinary approach to patient care, we provide a number of natural history and treatment protocols for cancers and endocrine tumors. For instance, we offer innovative surgical procedures, molecular analysis of tumors, and targeted drug therapies. Patients are provided guidance and assistance with appointments, travel, counseling and social support. We believe it is important to collaborate with our patients' primary care and referring physicians in order to provide expert continuity of care. Before visiting, patients may be asked to provide medical records, discs with scans or x-ray studies and a list of medications.

The following are Important facts for our patients:

  • Consultations are provided at no cost to the patient
  • After a patient is accepted onto a study, treatment and tests performed at NIH are also no cost to the patient
  • NIH does not cover the cost of medical services provided at other facilities
  • We are located in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C.
  • Our clinics are located in the NIH Clinical Center (Building 10)
  • Visitor information is available at NIH Clinical Center
  • Questions?Visit NIH Clinical Research Trials and You.

Make an Appointment:

Surgical Oncology
Ph: 240.858.3610
surgicaloncology@nih.gov

Endocrine Onocology
Ph: 240.858.3020
endocrinesurgery@nih.gov

Our oncology nurses, nurse practitioners and patient care coordinators can help you understand the rationale behind our clinical trials. Their knowledge and expertise helps guide patients and their families through our clinical protocols and provides reassurance by carefully explaining treatment plans. When surgery is indicated, state-of-the-art procedures are explained by surgeons with expertise in the field of oncology. Skilled physicians and allied professionals in genetics, nutrition, pharmacology, nuclear imaging, interventional radiology and gastroenterology are all part of the multi-disciplinary management of our patients.

 

Teams

Our Teams

For Trainees

Our Science

Our Research Interests

  • Dr. Martha Zeiger is an internationally renowned endocrine surgeon and scientist who has been a leader in developing molecular diagnostics for thyroid cancer. Her research focuses on TERT gene expression regulation, molecular marker diagnostic panel development and molecular biological aspects of thyroid cancer development. She also leads a team studying and designing future pathways for the professional development of surgeon-scientists.
  • Dr. Jonathan Hernandez is a surgical oncologist and hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon whose research efforts focus on elucidating the mechanisms through which tumor cells coopt the microenvironment of distant organs to form life-threatening metastases in order to interrupt this process prior to its completion. 
  • Dr. Jeremy Davis is a surgical oncologist whose research focuses on sporadic and inherited forms of stomach cancer, specifically those caused by germline mutations in the CDH1 gene. Dr. Davis is recognized both nationally and internationally as an expert in CDH1 and the Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer syndrome. His research is focused on understanding the molecular underpinnings of gastric cancer development and metastasis. Dr. Davis is board certified in both Complex General Surgical Oncology and General Surgery.
  • Dr. Naris Nilubol is a surgeon-scientist specialized in endocrine oncology surgery and clinical research involving thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and neuroendocrine tumors. His laboratory research focus includes the identification of novel targeted therapeutics in endocrine cancers and novel cancer drug delivery methods by targeting tumor microenvironment.
  • Dr. Samira Sadowski specializes in endocrine surgery and her research focuses on the identification of diagnostic and prognostic markers for endocrine tumors and developing new therapies for such tumors.
  • Dr. Andrew Blakely is a surgical oncologist specializing in peritoneal surface and retroperitoneal malignancies. A primary focus of his research is to develop novel treatment approaches and modalities to improve pre-operative treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis.
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