Padmanee “Pam” Sharma, M.D., PhD

Dr. Pam Sharma is an immunologist and oncologist whose research work is focused on investigating mechanisms and pathways within the immune system that facilitate tumor rejection or elicit resistance to immune checkpoint therapy. She is a professor in the departments of Genitourinary Medical Oncology and Immunology, Associate VP of Immunobiology and the T.C. and Jeanette D. Hsu Endowed Chair in Cell Biology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Pam is the inaugural Scientific Director for the Immunotherapy Platform and the Director of Scientific Programs for the James P. Allison Institute at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She has written and conducted multiple innovative immunotherapy clinical trials with an emphasis on obtaining patients’ tumor samples for in-depth laboratory studies. Pam did her clinical fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and trained at New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center and Pennsylvania State. Among other honors, she was awarded the 2021 Randall Prize for Excellence in Cancer Research.