Joint Fellowship Training Program Fellows Robert J. Lechleider, M.D. Phone: &nbp; 301-496-1211 E-Mail: &nbp; lechleiderr@mail.nih.gov Professional Background Dr. Lechleider received his M.D. from the University of Illinois. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and went on to complete post-doctoral training at Beth Israel and at the NCI. Dr. Lechleider was an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and subsequently an Associate Professor in Cell Biology at Georgetown University Medical School. He is the co-author of over 40 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. He has returned to clinical practice to pursue further training in oncology and regulatory review. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and has been the principal investigator on numerous federal and private grants as a basic scientist. He began the NCI-FDA Clinical Oncology Product Research/Review Fellowship in September 2005. Research Interests As a faculty member, Dr. Lechleider directed a research lab interested in the basic mechanisms of cell differentiation and growth regulated by the transforming growth factor-beta family of growth factors. His lab made important contributions to the understanding of how TGF-beta and related factors regulate differentiation of smooth muscle from neural crest stem cell precursors. His lab also identified an important association of the Smad family of signaling intermediates with histone methyltransferases. He is skilled in many of the techniques of modern cell and developmental biology including gene targeting, chromosome immunoprecipitation, and gene expression analysis. Dr. Lechleider's current research interests are directed towards developing and implementing novel targeted therapies for the treatment of solid tumors, particularly breast cancer. He will be implementing a Phase II clinical trial using two novel agents in combination to target metastatic breast cancer following completion of his clinical training in fall 2006. As a clinical fellow at the NCI, he has had the unique experience of developing and implementing a clinical trial while at the same time exploring the mechanisms and practice of drug regulatory review at the FDA. Fellowship Experiences "Development and implementation of novel therapies for the treatment of various cancers is essential if we are to reduce the significant suffering and mortality from these diseases. Understanding the scientific, clinical and regulatory aspects of drug development is critical for those who hope to bring new therapies to market. For me, the NCI-FDA fellowship represents a perfect mechanism to develop my clinical and regulatory skills to complement my background as a basic scientist. My clinical experience has exposed me to all aspects of cancer care and trial development." Career Goals "My ideal position will call on my background in basic science and implement my new training in clinical oncology and regulatory review. Now is an exciting time to be an oncologist, and coordinating the development, testing, and approval of new therapies will require insight and expertise. The NCI-FDA fellowship is my investment in reaching that goal."

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