Head & Neck Oncology Research Program
The U-M Medical School Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery includes the Head and Neck Oncology Program with experts from 13 departments and five schools within the University of Michigan.
Together, this dedicated group conducts head and neck cancer research that includes basic, clinical, behavioral, population and translational research.
Focus Areas
The major themes of the Head and Neck Oncology Program are to:
Identify mechanisms of carcinogenesis and progression
Determine the molecular biology of treatment response
Characterize the immunobiology of the tumor microenvironment to better modulate the immune system as a therapeutic modality
Characterize the role of cancer stem cells in tumor progression, invasion, metastasis and resistance to treatment
Define new treatment combinations based on laboratory and clinical studies that define new biomarkers for individualized therapies
Define organ preservation strategies in head and neck cancer
Develop and implement novel reconstruction and rehabilitation techniques for head and neck cancer patients
Annual Head & Neck Oncology Program Meeting
The annual Head and Neck Oncology Program (HNOP) meeting focuses on advancements and updates in the field, including recent research findings, treatment innovations and patient care strategies.
Presentations from external invited speakers and Michigan Medicine faculty highlight the importance of early diagnosis and multidisciplinary approaches for optimal outcomes in treating head and neck cancers.
Discussions cover the latest surgical techniques, radiation therapy, targeted therapies that have shown promising results in clinical trials, and collaborative efforts to advance digital pathology and liquid biopsy tests into clinical workflows.
2026 Meeting
May 8, 2026
8:30 am
Light breakfast and coffee will be available at 7:30 in the Towsley Lobby.
Meeting Location:
Frankel Cardiovascular Center Danto Auditorium
Room 2314 (Second floor)
Honorary Guest Speaker:
John B. Sunwoo, MD, FACS
Edward C. and Amy H. Sewall Professor Otolaryngology and, by courtesy, Dermatology
Chief, Division of Head & Neck Surgery
Leader, Head & Neck Cancer Care Program, Stanford Cancer Center
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Stanford University
Program Director
J Chad Brenner, PhD, MSE
Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Cellular and Molecular Biology Academic Program Director
Medical School
Program Faculty
Anesthesiology
Biostatistics
Cancer Biology
Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Hematology-Oncology
Oncology
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
- Marisa Buchakjian, MD, PhD
- Keith Casper, MD
- David Forner, MD, MSc
- Molly Heft Neal, MD
- Kelly Malloy, MD, MBA
- Scott McLean, MD
- Jeffrey Moyer, MD, MS
- Mark Prince, MD
- Andrew Shuman, MD
- Chaz Stucken, MD
- Heather Walline, PhD
- Gregory Wolf, MD
- Pratyusha Yalamanchi, MD, MBA
Pathology
Radiation Oncology
- Yue Cao, PhD
- Avraham Eisbruch, MD
- Mukesh Nyati, PhD
- Michelle Mierzwa, MD
- Arvind Rao, PhD
- Jennifer Lobo Shah, MD
Radiology
