Lung Cancer Session

Dr. Abhishek Mahajan has completed his MBBS and MD Radiodiagnosis from KMC Manipal, and then did super-specialisation,2 yrs Fellowship in Cancer Imaging at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, from August 2009 to July 2011. Then worked as senior resident in TMC from August 2011 to September 2011.

Dr. Chehal is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, UAE Dr. Chehal is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Khalifa University (KU), Abu Dhabi, UAE Dr. Chehal graduated from the college of Medicine at Baghdad University/Iraq (MBChB) in 1996. He did his Internal Medicine residency at Makassed General Hospital (Affiliated with American University of Beirut), Lebanon, between 1997 and 2000. He did his Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the American University of Beirut (AUBMC), Lebanon, between 2000 and 2003 (Lebanese Board). He obtained Fellowship of the American College of Physician (FACP) in 2013. He obtained the European Certification of Medical Oncology (ECMO) in 2009 and Re-certification in 2014 and 2021. Dr. Chehal is a member of many national and international societies including ASCO, ESMO, EHA,….. He had an important role in Tumor registry in Lebanon in 2002. Dr. Chehal acted as chairperson, moderator, advisor, and member of scientific committee in many local and international congresses. Dr. Chehal has 27 published articles in peer reviewed international journals; he is the first author on 9 of them, in addition to 31 abstracts. He joined Mafraq hospital From May 2006 until December 2019. He served as head of Hematology Oncology division at Mafraq Hospital from December 2018 till December 2019 His main interests are Lung cancer, Breast Cancer, GI malignancies and Lymphoma.

Professor Ben Solomon is a medical oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Professor of Medicine at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado he returned to Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in 2006 where he heads the lung medical oncology service and has a clinical and translational research focus on lung cancer and phase I studies of novel anti-cancer therapies. He has been involved in the clinical development of targeted therapies in lung cancer, including the phase I through to phase III clinical trials with the first in class ALK inhibitor crizotinib that led to its approval in the treatment of ALK-rearranged NSCLC. He continues to be involved in the development of novel ALK inhibitors and other novel targeted therapies and immunotherapies in NSCLC. He is the scientific chair of the Thoracic Oncology Group of Australia (TOGA) and Board member of the Cancer Council of Victoria. He has over 200 peer reviewed publications and was listed in Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers for 2019 and 2020.

Medical Oncology at Dubai Hospital

Dr.Emad Anwar Dawoud, MD, PhD is a Consultant Clinical Oncology at Tawam Hospital (Affiliated with Johns Hopkins) Al Ain, UAE

Dr Al Khatib graduated from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt in 1969, obtained his DMRT in Radiotherapy and Oncology from the University of London in 1980, Part one FRCR, London in 1984, and FFRRCSI from Dublin in 1984. He undertook postgraduate training in Radiotherapy and Oncology in different hospitals in the UK, where he obtained extensive experience in the management of all malignant diseases both by chemotherapeutic agents and with radiation using different modalities including external beam radiation (x-ray, Co.60, Linear Accelerator, and electrons), intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy (high dose and low dose}, as well as non-sealed radioactive sources (I-131, P-32, St-89, etc). He also actively participated in ongoing clinical trials of the period, particularly those related to breast, lymphomas, brain and GI malignancies. He worked for 11 years as Consultant and Head of Radiotherapy Services at Tawam Hospital, United Arab Emirates where he attended between 350-400 new patients per year and was involved in the management of nearly 6000 cases out of 8000 registered at the hospital. His experience covers all standard radiotherapy techniques, conformal radiotherapy and rotation techniques, using 3D computer planning and MLC. Overall, he has played a major role in developing radiotherapy and medical oncology in the UAE and Gulf region.

Dr. Jawaher Ansari completed his Clinical Oncology specialist training in Birmingham, UK and worked as a Consultant at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow, the second largest cancer center in the UK, prior to moving to the Middle East. Dr Ansari has been a principal investigator for several practice-changing international clinical trials and has authored several peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters. His specialist interests are Urology, Breast and Lung cancers.

Dr. Kaltar Das has done his internal medicine fellowship in 2008 and Oncology fellowship in 2011 from Shaukat khanum Memorial cancer hospital and research center Pakistan, which is one the largest dedicated oncology center in the region. He has worked as oncologist in Pakistan, Qatar and currently working with Dubai health authority since 2012 (09 years). He has been participating as faculty member in EIOC (formerly UAE-CC) since 08 consecutive years. His special interest involves GI and Urological malignancies.

Dr. Maroun El Khoury completed his basic medical training from Saint Joseph University School of Medicine Beirut, Lebanon in 1999. He is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology and American Academy of Pain Management. Dr. Maroun El Khoury’s specialty is Oncology and currently work as a Consultant Oncologist.

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Dr. Diab has been working with NMC since May 2014 as Consultant Medical Oncologist. He completed his MD in 2004 from Karolinska University, Sweden. Subsequently, he completed his Certificate in Bone Marrow Transplantation in 2008 from Oncology Hospital, Radiumhemmet. Dr. Diab was instrumental in setting up the Oncology clinic at NMC hospital, where he implemented updated chemotherapy protocols according to the highest international and European standards. He has also set up a one of its kind, unique tumour board, which meets weekly to discuss all cancer cases to ensure that each patient’s treatment is personalised and most appropriate to his/her needs. This tumour board is multi-disciplinary & consists of the onco-surgeon, onco-pathologist & onco-radiologist in addition to allied specialities. Prior to joining NMC, he was a Consultant Medical Oncologist since 2008 in the West Gotland Region in Sweden that had 2 hospitals having capacities of 525 and 300 beds respectively. He was also instrumental in setting up and leading the oncology clinics of these hospitals while in Sweden. Dr. Diab manages his own Medical Oncology study and participates actively in many studies for different Tumour diagnosis. He is multilingual and can communicate fluently in English, Arabic, Swedish and has knowledge of conversational Norwegian and Danish.

.Natasha Leighl is a medical oncologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada, and Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. After receiving her MD from the University of Toronto, Dr Leighl completed residencies in internal medicine at the University of Calgary and in medical oncology at the University of Toronto. She subsequently completed a Fellowship in Thoracic Oncology with Dr Frances Shepherd at the Princess Margaret Hospital, a Fellowship in Clinical Oncology with Professor Martin Tattersall at the University of Sydney, Australia, and received her MMSc in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Dr Leighl’s main interest is in developing new treatments in lung cancer. She is a member of the Lung Disease Site Executive and co-chairs the Committee on Economic Analysis in the NCIC Clinical Trials Group. Dr Leighl is currently Web Editor of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Section Co-Editor of The Oncologist and Current Oncology and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. She has served on several committees including as Lung Track Leader for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Cancer Education Committee, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Medical Oncology Examination Board and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Career Development and Continuing Education Committees. She was past President of Lung Cancer Canada and has recently been awarded the OSI Pharmaceuticals Foundation Chair in Cancer New Drug Development at the University Health Network, University of Toronto.

“Dr. Nitesh Rohatgi is a senior consultant in Medical Oncology at Max Hospital in Saket, who was till recently working at the prestigious London Oncology Clinic (Leaders in Oncology care), Harley Street, London. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of medicine and has much publication to his name. He was trained in medical oncology, palliative medicine and teenage young adult’s cancers in United Kingdom, completing his CCT in 2009.”

Dr.Nouri Bennini has served as Consultant Oncologist at the Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, since 1999. He received his general medicine diploma in 1988 from the University of Constantine in Algeria and undertook residency in medical oncology at the University of Bordeaux, France. At the University of Montpellier, France, Dr. Bennini specialised in breast diseases. He has published several scientific papers and contributed to a number of oncology conferences.

Dr. Kumar is a professor and medical oncologist in Tata Memorial Hospital and has more than two decades of experience.He is the present President and convener of Indian Cooperative Oncology Network (ICON).He has so far published over a hundred research and review articles/papers in journals of national and international repute.He has so far undertaken over 80 projects as Principal Ivestigator and Co-Investigator.He is a member of many international and national scientific societies and associations and has delivered talks in several conferences.These days he is proactive in increasing awareness about lung cancer and has successfully conceptualized Lung Cancer Consortium Asia ,he has significantly contributed in translational and clinical research work in the field of lung cancer and has published 17 papers in recent years.He is dedicated to create awareness about lung cancer with utmost importance to patient care and to strengthen future research.

“Dr. Ramaswamy Govindan is a medical oncologist at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center in Saint Louis, Missouri. He is also the Anheuser Busch Endowed Chair in Medical Oncology, professor of medicine in the Division of Oncology and director of medical oncology at the Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Govindan has a board certification in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology and specializes in lung and thoracic cancers. Dr. Govindan’s research interests include the management and treatment of mesothelioma. He serves as a leading researcher at both Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center. He studies gene therapy and personalized medicine, and has a specific interest in using specialized treatment methods based on an individual’s tumor genomic profile. Dr. Govindan leads a clinical trial called ALCHEMIST (Adjuvant Lung Cancer Enrichment Marker Identification and Sequencing Trial) that is facilitated on a national level. The trial is designed to provide patients with alternative, targeted treatment for advanced lung cancers.”

“Dr Riyaz Shah is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Harley Street Clinic and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. He specialises in lung and gastrointestinal cancers and malignant mesothelioma. Dr Shah completed his medical degree at the University of London and obtained a First Class Honours Intercalated BSc in Experimental Pathology. Following this he undertook further medical training at The London Chest Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital, University College London, Guy’s Hospital and The Royal Marsden. In 1997 he became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London. He undertook a Clinical Research Fellowship with The Imperial Cancer Research Fund to investigate abnormal genes in pancreatic cancer. This work led to him being awarded with a PhD by Imperial College London. Following this, Dr Shah trained to become a specialist in Medical Oncology at The Royal Marsden Hospital and was awarded an ASCO Foundation Merit Award. In 2006 he was appointed Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Kent Oncology Centre. Dr. Shah is actively involved in training future medical oncologists and has an extensive role in clinical research. He has been a principal investigator on many trials at his centre and has been instrumental in the introduction of immunotherapy into routine clinical practice within Kent. He has served on the NCRI Lung Group, acted as chairman of the Kent Lung Network Lead and continues to be the lead for research at his Cancer Centre. He has been published widely and is regularly asked to speak both nationally and internationally on cancer issues”

Professor Popat has both a private and an NHS practice at The Royal Marsden. Professor Sanjay Popat is a Consultant Thoracic Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Molecular Genetics and Genomics Group at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London.He is a specialist thoracic oncologist, and is an internationally recognised expert in the treatment of lung cancer, mesothelioma and cancers of the thymus (thymoma and thymic carcinoma). He is Chair of the British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG), and also the Advanced Diseases Sub-group of the UK NCRI Lung Cancer Clinical Studies Group. He is Cancer Divisional Co-Director of the NIHR-London South Clinical Research Network. He is active in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Lung Group, the European Thoracic Oncology Platform (ETOP), and the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group (ITMIG).

Silvia Novello, MD, PhD is Full Professor of Medical Oncology in the Oncology Department at San Luigi Hospital in Orbassano, Italy, part of the University of Turin. She earned her medical degree and completed the postgraduate training in Respiratory Medicine and Medical Oncology at the University of Turin and partially at the Institut Gustave Roussy, in France. Currently, she is head of the Thoracic Oncology Unit at the San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano (Turin), where she also tutors medical students and Postgraduate students in Respiratory Medicine and Medical Oncology and Deputy Director of the Oncology Dept. Prof. Novello’s research interests include thoracic malignancies, primary prevention, gender differences in lung cancer, basic, translational and clinical applied research on lung cancer and mesothelioma, including pharmacogenomics. She is involved as PI in many International and national controlled clinical trials evaluating new approaches in diagnosis and lung cancer therapy. From July 2012 until 2016, Prof Novello has been a Member of the Board of Directors of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and since October 2016 Member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology, past Secretary and now part of the EORTC Lung Cancer Group and member of several scientific societies including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Thoracic Society and the European Society of Medical Oncology. Currently, she is the President of WALCE (Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe), a non profit European Association founded in 2006 in Turin, Italy, part of the scientific Committee of LuCe (Lung cancer Europe) and also member of the Scientific Committee of Bonnie J Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and Member of the Scientific Committee of ICAPEM (Investigación sobre Cáncer de Pulmón en Mujeres). She is the author or co-author of over 150 publications in peer-reviewed journals.

“Solange Peters, MD, PhD, is a full professor and chair of medical oncology, as well as the thoracic malignancies program in the Department of Oncology at the University Hospital of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland. She received both her doctorate in medicine and PhD from the University Hospital of Lausanne. After completing her clinical education in medical oncology and molecular biology in Switzerland and Italy, Prof. Peters has specialized in thoracic tumors, lung cancer, and pleural tumors. Prof. Peters is currently in charge of teaching and patient care in thoracic malignancies at Lausanne University, where she is building a translational program in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the Ludwig Institute. Her main fields of interest are new biomarkers discovery and validation in preclinical and clinical settings, multimodality strategies for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as cancer immunotherapy. Her current research projects are mainly focused on innovative immunotherapy combinations and new immunomodulating treatments across thoracic malignancies. She acts as the local principal investigator (PI) for lung trials opened at Lausanne Cancer Centre and is a co-PI of several other trials. Additionally, she acts as the scientific coordinator and Foundation Council member of the European Thoracic Oncology Platform. Professor Peters has authored numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, acts as associate editor of the Annals of Oncology, serves on the editorial board of several other oncology journals, and was the deputy editor of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology for 10 years. Prof. Peters is active in the educational programs of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) – where she created the Women for Oncology Committee and for which she is the youngest President ever for an extended time of 3 years 2020-2022, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) – were she was a previous Board of Directors member. “

Dr. Sonia Otsmane is an experienced Medical Oncology-Haematology Consultant since 2004. Graduated from the Central faculty of Medecine Algiers in 1994. MD degree. Oncology-hematology board : Pierre and Marie curie institute in 2004. ESMO member. Member of ASCO. Member of Emirates oncology and hematology society. Member of Oncology society and Algerian order of physicians. Main interest: breast cancer, sarcomas, GI and GU malignancies and lymphomas. Has an interest and implicated in several clinical research. Publications and research ongoing on Hematology malignancies (Multiple myeloma /Lymphoma), Solid tumors mainly Breast cancer Head and neck tumors and Immunotherapy. Currently working as Medical Oncology Hematology Physician at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City.

Dr. Syed is a medical oncologist with more than 15 years of experience. He completed Internal Medicine training from Columbia University in New York. He then completed an Oncology fellowship from New York Medical college. He is American Board certified in Medical Oncology and has successfully treated more than 5000 oncology patients.

“Professor Tony S.K. Mok, BMSc, MD, FRCP(C), FRCP(Edin), FHKCP, FHKAM(Medicine), FASCO was trained at the University of Alberta, Canada and he subsequently completed a fellowship in medical oncology at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. After working as a community oncologist in Toronto, Canada for seven years, he returned to Hong Kong in 1996 to pursue an academic career. Professor Mok is the Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation endowed Professor and Chairman of Department of Clinical Oncology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His main research interest focuses on biomarker and molecular targeted therapy in lung cancer. He was the Principal Investigator and first author on the landmark IPASS, which was the first study that confirmed the application of precision medicine for advanced lung cancer. He has also led and co-led multiple international phase III studies including the FASTACT 2, PROFILE 1014, IMPRESS, ARCHER 1050, ALEX, AURA 3 and KEYNOTE 042. These projects address various aspects on management of advanced lung cancer, and basically have defined the current practice. He dedicates his work on precision medicine for lung cancer by also engaging in clinical research on oncogene driven lung cancer and immunotherapy. His work has been adopted by multiple international guidelines including NCCN, AMP/IASLC/CAP, ASCO and ESMO. He also contributes to the development of clinical research infra-structure in China and Asia. He cofounded the Lung Cancer Research Group, Chinese Thoracic Oncology Research Group and Asia Thoracic Oncology Research Group. Professor Mok has contributed to over 260 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, Science, Lancet, Nature Medicine and Journal of Clinical Oncology, and published multiple editorials and textbooks. He served as an Associate Editor for thoracic oncology for the Journal of Clinical Oncology and other international journals. He is the Past President and Past Treasurer of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). He is a member of the Board of Directors for ASCO, AstraZeneca, Aurora Tele-Oncology, Sanomics, Hutchison Chi-Med and St. Stephen’s College & Preparatory School. He is active in international education activity and has made significant contribution to AACR, ASCO, CSCO and ESMO. His work was recognised by numerous awards including Bonnie Addario Award in 2015, Fellowship of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) in 2017, Paul Bunn Jr Scientific Award in 2017, National Science and Technology Progress Award in 2017, CSCO Annual Achievement Award in 2017, ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, The 6th Kobayashi Foundation Award and Giant of Cancer Care in 2020. His recent article in The New England Journal of Medicine has been selected as one of the most “Notable Articles in 2017”.”

“Dr UllasBatra obtained his DM in Medical Oncology from the prestigious Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology. He has gained widespread experience in the management of various malignancies like Lung cancer, breast cancer, GI Cancers and hematological malignancies etc. He has also done perceptorship in various International Institutes like MD Anderson Cancer Centre, USA, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia. He has participated as a Principal investigator and co Investigator in various phase II and III clinical trials. He has numerous publications to his credit in reputed Journals and Research gate, an online repository of scientific articles has listed 49 of them. He has actively participated in organizing various seminars, CMEs, conferences throughout country. He is also a Thesis guide to DNB residents. At present, he is working as Senior Consultant and Chief of Thoracic Medical Oncology at Rajiv Gandhi cancer Institute and Research Centre.”

Dr. Vanita Noronha is a Professor and Medical Oncologist at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. She has interest in lung, esophageal, head and neck and urologic cancers. She is also interested in optimizing the care of older patients with cancer and runs the geriatric oncology clinic at the Tata Memorial Hospital. She is interested in the management of rare tumors and run the rare tumor meeting. She is the editor in chief of Cancer Research Statistics and Treatment.

“Vivek Subbiah, M.D., is an associate professor in the Investigational Cancer Therapeutics department (a Phase 1 program). He is the Center Clinical Medical Director of the Clinical Center for Targeted Therapy, Cancer Medicine division, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. After completing his medical school in India at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, India he completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth, Cleveland Ohio. Dr. Subbiah has a unique training background as he is one of the few physicians in the nation/world to have training in oncology in both adults and children. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and has completed fellowships in both adult and pediatric oncology at MD Anderson. Dr. Vivek Subbiah is a clinical trialist and Physician Investigator in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at MD Anderson, which is the largest oncology drug development unit in the world. He is primarily involved in translational cancer research and the design and conduct of early-phase biomarker-driven clinical trials, with a specialist interest in anti-body drug conjugates, radio-pharmaceuticals, immunoconjugates and basket trials. Dr. Subbiah serves as the Principal Investigator in numerous trials, certainly leaving an accomplished impression on the national and international drug development community. Dr. Subbiah has skillfully led the MD Anderson effort on the international Vemurafenib Basket Trial in non-melanoma BRAF V600-mutated cancers, which pioneered a novel histology-independent clinical trial design. Vemurafenib was FDA approved in Erdheim-Chester disease based on this trial. Dabrafenib and trametinib was U.S. FDA-approved in the treatment of BRAF V600-mutant anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) based on practice changing data from the Rare Oncology Agnostic Approach (ROAR) trial lead by Dr. Subbiah. Furthermore, his novel investigator-initiated trials have also laid the foundation for therapeutic breakthroughs for additional rare cancers. Specifically, his clinical trial for Radium-223 as a treatment for relapsed osteosarcoma was singularly responsible for the inclusion of this radiopharmaceutical in the treatment algorithm of osteosarcoma in the guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Dr. Subbiah is a major advocate for precision oncology. His national leadership roles continue to expand as the National PI for the BRAF non-V600 alteration arm of the NCI-MATCH Precision Medicine Clinical Trial. His trial portfolio includes trials that target BRAF, MEK, RET, CDK, WNT, VEGF,mTOR, EZH2-EED pathways, novel immunotherapy combination trials GITR, TLR7/9, PD1, WT1, several first-in-human antibody drug conjugates, oncolytic viruses, intra-tumoral therapies and radiopharmaceuticals. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed in several prestigious journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, Cancer Discovery, Clinical Cancer Research, and Lancet Oncology.”

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