Head, Sarcoma Translational Research Program, Department of Medical Oncology
Vall D'hebron Institute of Oncology, Spain
César Serrano, MD PhD is a physician-scientist with a double appointment at the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) as Head of the Sarcoma Translational Research Program, and Attending Physician in the Sarcoma Unit, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital.
With nearly 10 years of experience in sarcomas, his academic focus at VHIO since 2014 is sarcoma translational research, with an emphasis on biological understanding of GIST and sarcomas oriented to drug development. To this end, the Sarcoma Translational Research Program is divided in the following research areas: 1) mechanistic understanding of drug sensitivity / drug resistance to targeted therapies, with particular predilection towards –omic discovery; 2) preclinical development of targeted therapies and therapeutic strategies; 3) clinical development of therapeutic agents in GIST and sarcoma. Dr. Serrano is a very active member in the Sarcoma Research Spanish Group (GEIS), member of the GEIS board, leader of the GEIS Sarcoma Patients' advocacy group and co-leader of the GIST working group. He currently co-leads the national GIST guidelines. Dr. Serrano’s most recent work has led to the following milestones: 1) to establish the molecular mechanisms of TKI-sensitivity and resistance in GIST; 2) clinically testing of rapid drug rotation against tumor heterogeneity; 3) development of liquid biopsy (ctDNA) in GIST; 4) development of the recently FDA-approved avapritinib and ripretinib.