Thomas J George, MD, FACP, FASCO : Research

Translational and clinical research in gastrointestinal malignancies is the primary aspect of Dr. George’s academic interests.  Specific areas of focus include active collaboration and development of early phase clinical trials to promote novel drug application in patient care, improve quality of life, and identify predictive markers for individualized therapy.  He has been a 10 year Gubernatorial appointee to the Executive Committee and past Chair of the Florida Cancer Control and Research and Advisory Council which advises the legislature on matters related to cancer care and research in the state. He is a dedicated mentor and teacher of trainees and students in the College of Medicine and junior faculty both at UF and other major cancer centers.

Experimental Therapeutics - Dr. George is involved as a Principal Investigator in numerous clinical trials aimed at determining the optimal treatment for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies and bringing new therapies to patients with these cancers.  Collaborations include public and private partnerships, numerous national clinical trial groups as well as the National Cancer Institute.  Representative protocols include studies in colon, rectal, pancreatic, esophagogastric, hepatobiliary and other treatment refractory cancers.  He has been involved in developing or leading clinical trials that have contributed to changes in clinical practice.  

Personalized Oncology - As cancer care becomes more complex, focus on a tailored approach to individualized treatments which maximize benefit while minimizing risk is critical.  Research involving the identification of specific markers or elements of a patient or their cancer which will predict, in advance, response to a given therapy are areas of active investigation.  The incorporation of new molecular markers, gene expression profiling, and pharmacogenomics into clinical care will help to provide patients with truly personalized care. 

Cancer Informatics, digital resources, and Big Data - The rapid adoption of advanced computing and AI offers tremendous opportunities to rapidly advance the field of cancer research and improve outcomes for patients. Dr. George works closely with computational engineers, bioinformaticians, large database managers and biomedical scientists to leverage the University's AI-resources and initiatives to support new cancer discoveries and innovations.