MD, ScM
Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology
Co-Associate Director, Cancer Research Training Education Coordination
Director, Early Phase Clinical Research and Drug Development, UNC Lineberger
Associate Co-Director, CRTEC
UNC-Chapel Hill
UNC Breast Center
Breast Cancer Research Program
Meet Claire Dees
Area of Interest
I am an experienced medical oncologist and clinical trialist. I am a Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UNC Breast Center. I founded our Developmental Therapeutics (Phase I trials) Working Group at UNC-LCCC, and now direct the early phase clinical trials program, and the breast cancer clinical trials group. I co-lead the LCCC Clinical Research Program. My research focuses on early phase clinical trials of novel therapeutics, especially those focused on breast cancer. I have been the principal investigator for over 100 trials including 10 currently open early phase trials. I am the PI at UNC for the current Duke-UNC-Wash U Partnership in the ETCTN (UM1 grant), as well as a co-investigator on our NCTN grant and site PI for NRG. I have authored or co-authored over 85 papers. I am a member of the CALGB (ALLIANCE) pharmacogenomics and pharmacology committee, and have been a member of ASCO program committees, ABIM Medical Oncology Board Certification committee, peer review panels for DOD, Komen, and NIH, and also an ad hoc reviewer for a number of journals. I have co-mentored a number of fellows in oncology and pharmacology.
Awards and Honors
- UNC Health Care and Faculty Physicians Award for Carolina Care Excellence, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Forbes™ Top 27 Breast Cancer Experts in the Country, 2017
- Best Doctors in America®, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017
- Komen Scientific Advisory Council member 2010-present
- Fellow, Academic Leadership Program, 2010
- UNC Planetree Physician Champion Award, 2007
- K23 Patient Oriented Career Development Award, 2002
- Doris Duke Clinical Scientist Development Award, 2001
News and Stories
Trainee Research Day celebrates 50 years of science, honors top research
The 50th annual UNC Lineberger Trainee Research Day bought together graduate students and postdoctoral research associates to share their work with peers and faculty, and to hear valuable career advice from former postdoctoral fellows.
UNC Lineberger hosts cancer research career day for high school students
Students from the Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School Academy of Biomedical Sciences visited the UNC Lineberger for a half-day program of panel discussions, lab tours and hands-on learning.
