SUMMARY
Mitesh J. Borad, M.D., is an oncologist who is internationally recognized as an expert in treating cholangiocarcinoma. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Borad is extensively involved in developing novel cancer therapeutic platforms that leverage genomic medicine and gene and virus therapies. His research focuses on tumors of the liver, bile ducts and pancreas.
Dr. Borad led the clinical development of novel anticancer agents in more than 50 first-in-human studies. He led a multi-institution team with his collaborators at Mayo Clinic and the Translational Genomics Research Institute. The team was one of the first in the world to apply whole-genome sequencing in a clinical setting to care for people with advanced cancers. This work also led to the discovery of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusions in people with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, with the first demonstration of antitumor activity with FGFR inhibitors in this group of people. Subsequent work led to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of pemigatinib, infigratinib and futibatinib, which are all FGFR inhibitors.
Dr. Borad and his collaborators were the first to characterize the ultrahigh-resolution structure of ChAdOx1, the vector for AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine. This became the most widely administered COVID-19 vaccine in global history before it was taken off the market in 2024.
Dr. Borad's team developed several novel oncolytic, vaccine and gene therapy vesiculovirus vector platforms devoid of neurotoxicity or hepatotoxicity that are unlike existing vectors.
Dr. Borad's work has been funded since 2011 by peer-reviewed awards, including:
- FDA Orphan Drug R01.
- National Institutes of Health DP2 New Innovator Award.
- Department of Defense Translational Research Award.
- Paul Calabresi K12 Award.
- National Cancer Institute SPORE Project Award.
Dr. Borad received the Mark R. Clements Award for Vision, Innovation and Collaboration from the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation for his pioneering efforts to found the International Cholangiocarcinoma Research Network, which he also chaired. He is the proud mentor of a large cadre of trainees at all levels, particularly those from underrepresented groups. These trainees have gone on to successful careers in academia, government and the biopharmaceutical industry.
Focus areas
- Engineering novel gene and virus therapy platforms. Dr. Borad and his team are developing novel vesiculovirus-based platforms for gene therapy and oncolytic virotherapy applications. Their focus is on repeat dosing, harnessing preexisting host immunity and molecular tagging to enable surface-directed therapeutic synergies.
- Epigenomic therapeutics. Dr. Borad's team is leveraging epigenomic dependencies to enable combinatorial epigenomic therapeutic targeting in cholangiocarcinoma. His team also has been characterizing the role of superenhancers in cholangiocarcinoma oncogenesis.
- Genomic medicine-driven target discovery. Dr. Borad and his team use computational biology approaches for biomarker and target discovery in cancers of the bile duct, liver and pancreas from multi-omic datasets. The team's ultimate goal is achieving comprehensive and individualized N=1 therapies.
- First-in-human studies. Dr. Borad's clinical translation focus of novel anticancer agents is in early-phase clinical studies, with an emphasis on first-in-human studies.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Borad is committed to rapidly advancing discoveries from bench to bedside. He continues these efforts using a highly collaborative team science approach. Dr. Borad's research focuses on cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma because of their unmet treatment needs.
Professional highlights
- Mayo Clinic:
- Leader, Novel Therapeutics and Therapeutic Modalities Program, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2024-present.
- Getz Family Research Professor of Mayo Clinic Arizona, 2024-present.
- Arizona Investigator of the Year, 2024.
- Leader, Gene and Virus Therapy Program, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2020-2023.
- Founding director, Precision Cancer Therapeutics Program, Center for Individualized Medicine, 2020-2023.
- Editor, PLoS One, 2018-present.
- Elected member, The American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2024.
- Member, Physical Delivery, Therapeutics and Vector Development Committee, American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, 2021-2024.
- Co-founder and chair, International Cholangiocarcinoma Research Network, 2020-2023.
- Member, Hepatobiliary Cancers Panel, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2020-2023.
- Mark R. Clements Award for Vision, Innovation and Collaboration, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, 2022.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH):
- Charter member, Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology Study Section, 2015-2021.
- NIH New Innovator Award, 2014.