Mark Kelley
Betty and Earl Herr Chair in Pediatric Oncology Research and Professor, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Pharmacology and Toxicology Associate Director, Basic Science Research, IU Simon Cancer Center Director, Program in Molecular Oncology and Experimental TherapeuticsDepartment of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research and IU Simon Cancer Center
ude[dot]ui[at]yellekm
Therapeutic targeting of DNA repair and redox signaling nodes for cancer and other diseases
Since joining the Department of Pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine in 1993, Dr, Kelley’s work has focused on translational research in DNA damage and repair, specifically, to determine how those activities can be exploited therapeutically to treat cancers and protect normal cells from DNA damage. He has focused specifically on the enzyme called APE1 as a therapeutic target in cancers and other diseases. Dr. Kelley discovered and has been developing a specific inhibitor of APE1 which he is now translating to clinical trials. This work has also led to the creation of a biotechnology company called Apexian Pharmaceuticals, of which Dr. Kelley is the Chief Scientific Founder and Officer. The first drug developed has recently been approved by the FDA for Phase 1 clinical trials in cancer patients scheduled to begin in 2017. The drug has potential uses in a number of cancers including ovarian, colon, bladder, pancreatic, leukemia, and other adult and pediatric cancers. He is also exploring the use of the target APE1 and the drug to prevent a major side-effect of cancer treatments called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Dr. Kelley is committed to fast-tracking collaboration and translational research efforts in order to find more effective cancer treatments. He also mentors and encourages students, post-doctorates, fellows and junior faculty in translating their research into practice to expand the number of discoveries that help solve problems and make life better. Dr. Kelley is the 2017 Bantz Petronio Translating Research Into Practice Awardee.