Research Interests
Over 21,000 Americans will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, and over 14,000 of these patients will succumb to this disease. 70% of patients with ovarian cancer initially respond to platinum-based chemotherapy, but during treatment, the tumors will become increasingly more resistant to this approach. Herein lies the need for the development of novel agents against platinum-resistant ovarian cancers. Dr. Michael Birrer will be focused on developing new types of drug models and molecular approaches to help create alternative forms of treatment for multiple types of ovarian cancers. While his primary focus will be on that of ovarian cancer, he hopes his research, and ongoing clinical trials, will also help in the development of new treatments for multiple types of cancers studied here at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Dr. Birrer has also been chosen to lead the UAMS goal of achieving National Cancer Institute designation, and he has assembled a top notch team of doctors, oncologists, surgeons, and researchers to help him on this journey.