Dr. Izumchenko received his Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (B.Med.Lab.) and Master degree in Clinical Biochemistry (M.Med.Sc.) from Ben-Gurion University (BGU) School of Medicine, Israel, where he graduated summa cum laude from the Faculty of Health Sciences. He received his Ph.D. from Ben-Gurion University via the BGU/Fox Chase Cancer Center Partnership Graduate Research Program. He has performed thesis work in the laboratory of Dr. Erica Golemis, an internationally recognized cancer biologist, and his studies provided some of the earliest insights on the role of NEDD9 in the early stages of cancer development. He completed his first postdoctoral training with Dr. Kevin Brown and Dr. Stratford May at the University of Florida, with an NIH postdoctoral fellowship supporting his research. His studies described a novel mechanism by which dysregulation of genomic stability drives cancer development. Dr. Izumchenko joined the lab of Dr. David Sidransky at Johns Hopkins University in 2012, where he carried out seminal work in defining the clonal evolution and heterogeneity in several solid tumor types, at both the genetic and epigenetic levels. Based on his record of research accomplishments, he was invited to join the Department of Otolaryngology as an Instructor in 2016, and subsequently was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor in May, 2017. Dr. Izumchenko joined the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago in 2019. His research focus is on understanding the complex interplay between the genetic and epigenetic alterations in carcinogenesis and disease progression, and on exploiting this understanding for developing novel biomarkers for diagnosis and risk stratification as well as in identifying targets for therapeutic intervention. Specifically, he is interested in defining the drivers underlying the premalignant progression and early immune evasion. Dr. Izumchenko has focused his research on cancers of upper aerodigestive tract, which is a very challenging area of oncology. He is actively engaged in partnering with researchers and oncologists in academia and pharmaceutical industry worldwide, to advance discovery of biomarkers for early cancer detection and risk assessment, personalized therapy, and novel anti-cancer interventions.
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Postdoctoral Fellow - Cancer Research
2016
University of Florida, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Gainesville, FL
Postdoctoral Fellow - Cancer Research
2012
Ben-Gurion University, School of Medicine
Israel
Ph.D. - Cancer Research
2010
Ben-Gurion University, Dept of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology
Israel
M.Med.Sc. - Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology
2005
Analytical and clinical performance validation of HPV-SEQ, a novel NGS-based liquid biopsy platform for detection and quantification of human papilloma virus circulating tumor DNA.
Analytical and clinical performance validation of HPV-SEQ, a novel NGS-based liquid biopsy platform for detection and quantification of human papilloma virus circulating tumor DNA. Oral Oncol. 2025 Jun 26; 167:107445.
PMID: 40578243
Early dynamics of circulating tumor HPV-DNA with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and response-adapted de-escalation in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer.
Early dynamics of circulating tumor HPV-DNA with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and response-adapted de-escalation in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 May 27.
PMID: 40423530
Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy Followed by Response-Stratified Chemoradiation Therapy in HPV-Negative Head and Neck Cancer: The DEPEND Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.
Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy Followed by Response-Stratified Chemoradiation Therapy in HPV-Negative Head and Neck Cancer: The DEPEND Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2025 May 01; 11(5):492-501.
PMID: 40048190
Analysis of AI foundation model features decodes the histopathologic landscape of HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
Analysis of AI foundation model features decodes the histopathologic landscape of HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Oral Oncol. 2025 Apr; 163:107207.
PMID: 40043423
Variability in radiotherapy outcomes across cancer types: a comparative study of glioblastoma multiforme and low-grade gliomas.
Variability in radiotherapy outcomes across cancer types: a comparative study of glioblastoma multiforme and low-grade gliomas. Aging (Albany NY). 2025 Feb 27; 17(2):550-562.
PMID: 40015963
PRMT5 inhibition has a potent anti-tumor activity against adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands.
PRMT5 inhibition has a potent anti-tumor activity against adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Jan 11; 44(1):11.
PMID: 39794830
Circulating tumor DNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-current status and future prospects.
Circulating tumor DNA in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-current status and future prospects. Acad Oncol. 2024; 1(2).
PMID: 39867572
Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy Followed By Response-Adaptive Therapy for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer: OPTIMA II Phase 2 Open-Label Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.
Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy Followed By Response-Adaptive Therapy for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer: OPTIMA II Phase 2 Open-Label Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2024 Jul 01; 10(7):923-931.
PMID: 38842838
Acquired resistance to immunotherapy and chemoradiation in MYC amplified head and neck cancer.
Acquired resistance to immunotherapy and chemoradiation in MYC amplified head and neck cancer. NPJ Precis Oncol. 2024 May 23; 8(1):114.
PMID: 38783041
A small-molecule TNIK inhibitor targets fibrosis in preclinical and clinical models.
A small-molecule TNIK inhibitor targets fibrosis in preclinical and clinical models. Nat Biotechnol. 2025 Jan; 43(1):63-75.
PMID: 38459338
Cancer Research Foundation (CRF) Breakthrough Board Team Science Award
University of Chicago
2025
UCCCC Program Pilot Project Grant
University of Chicago
2024
UCCCC Cancer Immunotherapy Team Science Award
University of Chicago
2024
Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM) Pilot Award
University of Chicago
2023
Cancer Research Foundation Breakthrough Award
University of Chicago
2023
Janet Rowley Research Day Poster Awards (Winner)
University of Chicago
2023
Department of Defense Idea Award
University of Chicago
2023
Provost’s Global Faculty Award - India and South Asia
University of Chicago
2022
First Place Prize ay the 26th Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge (NVC) Competition
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
2022
George Shultz Innovation Fund (GSIF) early-stage tech venture Award
University of Chicago
2022
V Foundation for Cancer Research Award
University of Chicago
2022
Janet D. Rowley Discovery Award
University of Chicago
2022
AbbVie-UChicago Collaboration Award
University of Chicago
2021
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation (ACCRF) Award
University of Chicago
2020
The U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation Award
University of Chicago
2020
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center Pilot Project Award
University of Chicago
2020
Janet D. Rowley Discovery Award
University of Chicago
2019
2019 Cancer Spotlights Award
University of Chicago
2019
2017 ALCF-IASLC Fellowship Award for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer
Johns Hopkins University
2017
Head and Neck Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence Pilot Grant Award
Johns Hopkins University
2016
Career Development Award (Head and Neck SPORE)
Johns Hopkins University
2016
The most cited manuscript in Cancer Prevention Research journal
Johns Hopkins University
2015
Fox Chase Cancer Center Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Research Award
Fox Chase Cancer Center
2008
The Kreitman Foundation Ph.D. Fellowship
Ben-Gurion University
2007
Dean Award and Prize for Academic Achievements
Ben-Gurion University
2005
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) research fellowship
Ben-Gurion University
2005