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William Douglas Figg Sr., Pharm.D.

William Douglas Figg Sr., Pharm.D., M.B.A.

  • Center for Cancer Research
  • National Cancer Institute
  • Building 10, Room 5A03
  • Bethesda, MD 20892-1906
  • 240-760-6179
  • 240-858-3020
  • figgw@mail.nih.gov

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Dr. Figg is an expert in molecular and clinical pharmacology, and utilizing pharmacological principles in anticancer drug and biomarker development. His research spans the entire drug development pipeline from target identification/validation in drug discovery to preclinical development and ultimately clinical evaluation. Dr. Figg’s main research interest lies in the development of novel anticancer agents. His laboratory is focused on 1) understanding the genetics and molecular mechanisms that drive prostate cancer progression; 2) elucidating mechanisms responsible for cancer drug resistance to develop novel treatment strategies for patients with advanced prostate cancer and other metastatic processes who have progressed on standard regimens; and 3) developing bench-to-bedside-to-bench approaches to facilitate the identification of novel druggable targets and for assessment of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetics biomarkers in monitoring clinical response and resistance to therapy.

Dr. Figg also oversees the Clinical Pharmacology Program within the Office of Clinical Director, which provides comprehensive clinical pharmacology assessment of new anticancer agents and comprises of four unique sections: Biospecimen Processing Core, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacometrics Section (which includes the Bioanalytical Unit and Preclinical Pharmacology Unit), Pharmacogenetics Section, and Clinical Section.

Dr. Figg also co-chairs (with Dr. Pat Steeg) the Office of Translational Resources.  

Areas of Expertise

Molecular/Clinical Pharmacology
Pharmacogenetics/Pharmacogenomics
Angiogenesis

Information for Patients

Learn more about our clinical trials and the highly specialized care teams that lead them. 

Publications

Selected Key Publications

Antibody-drug conjugates for cancer

Chau CH, Steeg PS, Figg WD
Lancet. 394(10200): 793-804, 2019.
Full-Text Article
[ Journal Article ]

Association of Androgen Metabolism Gene Polymorphisms with Prostate Cancer Rick and Androgen Concentrations: Results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial

Price DK, Chau CH, Till C, Goodman PJ, Leach RJ, Johnson-Pais TL, Hsing AW, Hogue A, Parnes HL, Schenk JM, Tangen CM, Thompson IM, Reichardt JKV, Figg WD
Cancer. 122: 2332-2340, 2016.
Full-Text Article
[ Journal Article ]

Epidithiodiketopiperazines (ETPs) exhibit in vitro antiangiogenic and in vivo antitumor activity by disrupting the HIF-1α/p300 complex in a preclinical model of prostate cancer

Reece KM, Richardson ED, Cook KM, Campbell TJ, Pisle ST, Holly AJ, Venzon DJ, Liewehr DJ, Chau CH, Price DK, Figg WD
Mol. Cancer. 13:91: 10.1186/1476-4598-13-91, 2014.
Full-Text Article
[ Journal Article ]

Angiogenesis inhibitors: current strategies and future prospects

Cook KM, Figg WD
A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 60: 222-243, 2010.
Full-Text Article
[ Journal Article ]

Effect of SLCO1B3 haplotype on testosterone transport and clinical outcome in caucasian patients with androgen-independent prostatic cancer

Hamada A, Sissung TM, Price DK, Danesi R, Chau CH, Sharifi N, Venzon D., Maeda K, Sparreboom A, Mitsuya H, Dahut WL, Figg WD
Clin Cancer Res. 14: 3312-3318, 2008.
Full-Text Article
[ Journal Article ]

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Team

Postbaccalaureate Fellow (CRTA)
Erica L. Beatson, B.S.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Kinjal Bhadresha, Ph.D.
Postbaccalaureate Fellow (CRTA)
Benjamin Brim, B.A.
Pharmacologist
Cindy H. Chau, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Postbaccalaureate Fellow (CRTA)
Kathleen Garchitorena, B.S.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jessica D. Kindrick, D.Phil.
Postbaccalaureate Fellow (CRTA)
Sayer Lelling, B.S.
Postbaccalaureate Fellow (CRTA)
Dhruv Pillai, B.S.

News

William Figg receives 2021 ACCP Distinguished Investigator Award

Dr. Figg recently received the 2021 American College of Clinical Pharmacology Distinguished Investigator Award. This award recognizes superior scientific expertise and accomplishments by a senior investigator, usually involving a distinct area of research in basic or clinical pharmacology for which the individual is internationally known.

Dr. Figg receives 2017 Tyler Prize for Stimulation of Research Award

William Figg Sr., Pharm.D., was awarded the 2017 Tyler Prize for Stimulation of Research Award by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). The Tyler Prize recognizes an individual for encouraging research, directing research or mentoring in the pharmaceutical sciences.