Justin Balko

(iStock)
April 22, 2026

Liquid biopsy predicts response to breast cancer immunotherapy

This minimally invasive and cost-effective alternative to tissue biopsy offers “an accessible tool for tailoring treatment strategies in breast cancer,” researchers reported April 22 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

By Bill Snyder
November 12, 2025

Eleven Vanderbilt scientists among this year’s ‘highly cited’ researchers

They are among 6,868 scientists worldwide whose papers rank in the top 1% by citations for their fields of research and publication year in the Web of Science Core Collection over the past 11 years.

By Bill Snyder
February 6, 2025

Waddell Walker Hancock Cancer Discovery Fund names two more scholars 

The funds will support Justin Balko’s research on breast cancer and Kathleen DelGiorno’s research on pancreatic cancer.

By Tom Wilemon
Mark Denison, MD, and Xiaotao Lu, MS, are among those on a new list of scientists whose papers have been cited the most frequently by other researchers. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
November 15, 2023

Twelve at Vanderbilt are among world’s highly cited researchers

Twelve current investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University are on this year’s list of scientists whose papers have been cited the most frequently by other researchers.

By Bill Snyder
The study team included, from left, Paula Gonzalez-Ericsson, MD, Xiaopeng Sun, Justin Balko, PharmD, PhD, and Brandie Taylor, MS. (photo by Donn Jones)
October 4, 2023

Vulnerability found in immunotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered a druggable target on natural killer cells that could potentially trigger a therapeutic response in patients with immunotherapy-resistant, triple-negative breast cancer.

By Tom Wilemon
August 10, 2023

New leaders named to Vanderbilt-Ingram research programs

Seven new leaders have been appointed to guide Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s research programs.

By Tom Wilemon