Marijo Bilusic, MD, PhD

We live in a very special time in history of cancer treatments, with many challenges, but also the opportunity for making paradigm shifts in the way we think of and treat cancer.

I am interested in genitourinary cancers (prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers). I am also interested in developing new treatment options for cancers, including cancer immunotherapy. The main premise is stimulating the patient's immune system using vaccine, antibodies or immune modulators to attack and kill the malignant tumor cells that are responsible for the disease.

In addition, I am passionate about translational research and clinical trials. Only a minority of adult cancer patients participate in cancer clinical trials. Clinical trial enrollment depends on well designed trials, educated patients, insurance companies, and institutional infrastructure support. The treatments we have today are built upon the clinical trial results and patient participation of the past. My goal is to offer patients the best treatment option available for their disease, including clinical trials.

My PhD research was in physiological genomic. In common speech, "gene" is often used to refer to the hereditary cause of a trait, disease, or condition. Physiological genomic is the study of how genes and the interplay between genes and environment affect “complex” diseases, including cancer. Everyone is an individual. I believe that personalized approach also applies to how I care for patients.