Dr. Burris leads clinical strategy and drug development for SCRI’s clinical research network. In 1997, he established the first community-based phase 1 drug development program in Nashville, which became SCRI. Among his many accomplishments, he led the first-in-human studies for many now-approved drugs that have changed the standard of care for several types of cancers, and, more recently has been instrumental in initiating research with novel therapies including mRNA personalized vaccines for the treatment of a variety of cancers. He has authored more than 420 publications and 640 abstracts, and SCRI has initiated more than 650 first-in-human trials to date under his leadership.
Dr. Burris served as ASCO® president for the 2019-2020 term and has continued to hold several leadership positions on behalf of the ASCO® community, including the Board of Governors, Audit Committee, and as chair of the ASCO® Nominating Committee. Currently, he is chair of the Board for the Conquer Cancer Foundation.
He received his undergraduate degree at West Point, his medical degree from the University of South Alabama, and performed his residency and fellowship in hematology/oncology at Brooke Army Medical Center. While there, he was director of clinical research at the Institute for Drug Development of The Cancer Therapy and Research Center, and an associate professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center.
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