Robert Kratzke, MD

Dr. Kratzke is a member of the Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program at the Masonic Cancer Center. He has spent his entire career in translational mesothelioma and lung cancer research beginning during his fellowship at the NCI-Navy Medical Oncology Branch (John Minna, Director). Based on his accomplishments in 2004 he was awarded the John Skoglund Chair for Lung Cancer Research at the University of Minnesota. In recent years he has redirected his research interests to the dual projects of oncolytic virotherapy and targeting cap-mediated translation for lung cancer or mesothelioma therapy. In addition, he holds leadership roles in the Alliance for Cancer Clinical Trials (Alliance) including directing thoracic oncology correlative science projects and serving as Vice-chair of the Respiratory Committee for this NIH sponsored organization. He has worked on numerous lung cancer projects for the CALGB including analyses of patient outcomes, biomarkers, and staging. He is active in the oversight and analysis of both the Alliance lung cancer tissue bank and PLCO tissue and blood samples. During the course of his career, he has mentored numerous fellows and trainees in the study of mesothelioma and lung cancer including funded researchers at institutions such as Stanford University, the University of Minnesota, and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center among others.