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.
Referrals
Surgical Oncology
Ph: 240.858.3610
surgicaloncology@nih.govEndocrine Surgery
Ph: 240.858.3020
endocrinesurgery@nih.govClinical Trials
Our trials focus on treating stomach, pancreas and hepatobiliary cancers.
Our Surgeons
Our team delivers high-quality care to patients in the setting of innovative clinical trials for tumors of the foregut. Learn more
Fellowship
The Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship combines bench-side research in surgical oncology with training in clinical research through patient care. Learn more
Patient Services
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 Surgeons
- Martha A. Zeiger, M.D.
- Director, Surgical Oncology Program
- Jonathan M. Hernandez, M.D.
- Tenure Track Investigator
- Chief of Surgical Oncology Section
- Naris Nilubol, M.D.
- Physician-Scientist Early Investigator
- Chief of Endocrine Surgery Section
- Jeremy L. Davis, M.D.
- Associate Research Physician, Staff Clinician
- Surgical Oncology, Surgeon-in-Chief
- Samira M. Sadowski, M.D.
- Physician Scientist Early Investigator, Endocrine Surgery
- Andrew M. Blakely, M.D.
- Assistant Research Physician, Staff Clinician, Surgical Oncology, Fellowship Program Director
- Staff Scientists
- Kirsten Remmert, Ph.D. Staff Scientist
- Surajit Sinha, Ph.D. Research Fellow
- Prachi Mishra, Ph.D. Staff Scientist
- James Madigan, Ph.D. Staff Scientist
- Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Research Nurses and Patient Care Coordinators
- Amynah Pradhan, CRNP-F, MSN, R.N. Nurse Practitioner
- Ashley Schmitz, Ph.D., MS, CRNP Nurse Practitioner
- Shyni A. Simon, CRNP-BC Nurse Practitioner
- Stacy Robinson Joyce, PA-C Physician Assistants
- Cathleen E. Hannah, R.N. Research Nurse
- Kristine Joy Villaruel, MS, R.N. Research Nurse
- Rebecca Trupp, R.N., BSN Research Nurse
- Claudia L. Espinoza Patient Care Coordinator
- Elizabeth Martin Patient Care Coordinator
- Wendy Barrios-Aquino Patient Care Coordinator
- Administrative Staff
- Joanna M. Lamot Program Specialist
- Helen Clyde Executive Assistant to Dr. Zeiger
- Jennifer Corral Program Specialist
- Lindsay Demblowski Scientific Educator
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.
Training Opportunities
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.
Referrals
Surgical Oncology
Ph: 240.858.3610
surgicaloncology@nih.govEndocrine Surgery
Ph: 240.858.3020
endocrinesurgery@nih.govClinical Trials
Our trials focus on treating stomach, pancreas and hepatobiliary cancers.
Our Surgeons
Our team delivers high-quality care to patients in the setting of innovative clinical trials for tumors of the foregut. Learn more
Fellowship
The Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship combines bench-side research in surgical oncology with training in clinical research through patient care. Learn more
For Patients
Patient Services
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
- Our Surgeons
- Martha A. Zeiger, M.D.
- Director, Surgical Oncology Program
- Jonathan M. Hernandez, M.D.
- Tenure Track Investigator
- Chief of Surgical Oncology Section
- Naris Nilubol, M.D.
- Physician-Scientist Early Investigator
- Chief of Endocrine Surgery Section
- Jeremy L. Davis, M.D.
- Associate Research Physician, Staff Clinician
- Surgical Oncology, Surgeon-in-Chief
- Samira M. Sadowski, M.D.
- Physician Scientist Early Investigator, Endocrine Surgery
- Andrew M. Blakely, M.D.
- Assistant Research Physician, Staff Clinician, Surgical Oncology, Fellowship Program Director
- Staff Scientists
- Kirsten Remmert, Ph.D. Staff Scientist
- Surajit Sinha, Ph.D. Research Fellow
- Prachi Mishra, Ph.D. Staff Scientist
- James Madigan, Ph.D. Staff Scientist
- Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Research Nurses and Patient Care Coordinators
- Amynah Pradhan, CRNP-F, MSN, R.N. Nurse Practitioner
- Ashley Schmitz, Ph.D., MS, CRNP Nurse Practitioner
- Shyni A. Simon, CRNP-BC Nurse Practitioner
- Stacy Robinson Joyce, PA-C Physician Assistants
- Cathleen E. Hannah, R.N. Research Nurse
- Kristine Joy Villaruel, MS, R.N. Research Nurse
- Rebecca Trupp, R.N., BSN Research Nurse
- Claudia L. Espinoza Patient Care Coordinator
- Elizabeth Martin Patient Care Coordinator
- Wendy Barrios-Aquino Patient Care Coordinator
- Administrative Staff
- Joanna M. Lamot Program Specialist
- Helen Clyde Executive Assistant to Dr. Zeiger
- Jennifer Corral Program Specialist
- Lindsay Demblowski Scientific Educator
For Trainees
Training Opportunities
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.