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Elizabeth Claire Dees

E. Claire Dees, MD, MSc, ScM, is a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member and medical oncologist. She specializes in breast cancer and early phase clinical trials.

MD, MSc, ScM
Professor, Oncology
Director, Early Phase Clinical Research and Drug Development, UNC Lineberger
Co-Leader, UNC Lineberger Clinical Research Program
UNC-Chapel Hill
Breast Cancer
Clinical Research
UNC Breast Center

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
  • I am the UNC PI for the 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

Find publications on PubMed