Benjamin Drapkin, M.D., Ph.D.

  • Internal Medicine - Hematology/Oncology
  • Lung Cancer
  • Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) clinical trials

Appointment New Patient Appointment Accepting Virtual Visits or 214-645-4673

Appointment New Patient Appointment or 214-645-4673

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Biography

Benjamin Drapkin, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in the care of lung cancer patients, with a focus on small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Dr. Drapkin earned his medical degree and his doctoral degree in cell biology and genetics through the Tri-Institutional M.D.-Ph.D. Program sponsored by Weill Cornell Medicine, The Rockefeller University, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and received advanced training in the care of cancer patients through the Dana-Farber/Mass General Brigham Fellowship in hematology/oncology.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in medical oncology, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2020.

Dr. Drapkin’s research focuses on SCLC clinical trials and translational research in SCLC and other aggressive neuroendocrine tumors. His laboratory leverages patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models to discover new targets and develop new therapies for these deadly diseases. He has published numerous academic articles.

In 2020 he received the University of Texas Lung Cancer SPORE Career Enhancement Program Award and the K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award.

Education & Training
  • Medical School - Cornell University Medical College (2001-2010)
  • Residency - Massachusetts General Hospital (2010-2013), Internal Medicine
  • Fellowship - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2013-2019), Hematology Oncology
Honors & Awards
  • University of Texas Lung Cancer SPORE Career Enhancement Program Award 2020, UT Southwestern Medical Center
  • K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award 2020, National Cancer Institute
  • First-Time Faculty Award 2019, Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas
  • Grant Recipient 2017, Lung Cancer Research Foundation
  • Young Investigator Award 2016, American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department Award 2000, Yale University
Research
  • Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) clinical trials
  • Translational research
  • Strategies to overcome or circumvent chemotherapy cross-resistance
  • Elucidation of the mechanism by which lineage transdifferentiation between lung adenocarcinoma and SCLC occurs
  • Approaches to target loss of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB1), a genomic hallmark of SCLC, by synthetic lethality

Clinical Focus

  • Lung Cancer
  • Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) clinical trials

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Results: 1 Locations

Lung, Head, and Neck Cancer Clinic

at Cancer Care Outpatient Building 6202 Harry Hines Blvd., 9th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75235 (214) 645-4673 Directions to Lung, Head, and Neck Cancer Clinic Parking Info for Lung, Head, and Neck Cancer Clinic

Appointment New Patient Appointment Accepting Virtual Visits or 214-645-4673