Dr. Kenneth James Pienta, MD

Dr. Kenneth Pienta serves as the Associate Vice President for Research, Health Sciences. He is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Urology, a two-time American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor Award recipient, and Director of Experimental Therapeutics for the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology. He is on the faculty of Cellular and Molecular Biology as well as the graduate programs of the Center for Computational Medicine and Biology (CCMB). Currently, Dr. Pienta is involved in research to define the tumor microenvironment of cancer metastases, as well as developing new therapies for cancer.

Since 1995, Dr. Pienta has been the Director of the Prostate Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) at The University of Michigan. He has a proven, peer-reviewed track record in organizing and administering a translational research program that successfully incorporates bench research, agent development, and clinical application. Dr. Pienta has international …expertise in the development of novel chemotherapeutic programs for prostate cancer. Dr. Pienta has championed the concept that translational research is often best accomplished by multi-disciplinary teams of scientists and clinicians. The success of these endeavors led to the receipt of the 2007 first annual American Association for Cancer Research Team Science Award. He is the author of more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, and been the principle investigator on numerous local and national clinical trials. Throughout his career, Dr. Pienta has effectively mentored over 40 students, residents, and fellows to successful careers in medicine.