John M. Maris, MD
Areas of expertise: Neuroblastoma, Childhood solid cancers, Basic, translational, Basic, translational, and clinical science
Locations: Main Building, Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care
About John M. Maris, MD
John M. Maris, MD, is a physician-scientist who has focused for over three decades on the childhood cancer neuroblastoma with the dual goals of improving patient outcomes and using the disease as a model to understand cancer in general.
Trained in molecular genetics, Dr. Maris's laboratory has discovered the vast majority of the currently known neuroblastoma susceptibility genes through both family-based and genome-wide association study approaches. His laboratory has also defined the genomic landscape of neuroblastomas at diagnosis and during clonal evolution. These studies have led to the discovery and validation of biomarkers of patient outcomes and novel therapeutic strategies.
In parallel, his laboratory has focused on improving neuroblastoma patient outcomes by developing the preclinical rationale and then designing innovative clinical trials for a variety of small molecular, targeted radiotherapeutic, and more recently immunotherapeutic strategies. Dr. Maris has been intimately involved in all aspects of pediatric cancer drug development, and his laboratory has developed multiple collaborations with industry to further speed the process.
Dr. Maris is an internationally recognized practicing pediatric oncologist who cares for children with refractory neuroblastoma from around the world, typically in the context of early phase clinical trials. He is at a stage of his career where he can make paradigm shifting laboratory advances that are immediately translatable to improving cancer patient outcomes.
He supports a diverse and multi-disciplinary research team both within his own lab and through leadership of several multi-institutional projects and has mentored over 100 trainees in various disciplines over the past 25 years. He has continued a highly focused clinical practice exclusive to children with cancer for whom our standard of care has failed them, and continuously seeks to improve patient outcomes through a highly integrated basic and clinical research programs.
Titles
Attending Physician
Giulio D'Angio Endowed Professor
Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology – American Board of Pediatrics
Pediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics
Awards and Honors
2024, Elected to the Association of American Physicians
2024, Elected as a Fellow to the American Association for Cancer Research Academy
2024, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Pitcher of Hope Award
2024, Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House 50th Anniversary Dr. Audrey Evans Award for Medical Excellence (with Dr. Yael Mossé)
2023, Party with a Purpose Scientific Achievement Award, Friend of the AACR Foundation
2022, Philadelphia Magazine's Top Doctors in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
2017, NCI Outstanding Investigator Award
2013, The Dr. N. Blair Whittemore Visiting Professor of Sarah’s Fund in Pediatric Oncology, Montreal Children’s Hospital at McGill University
2013, St. Ignatius Loyola Distinguished Alumni Award, Wheeling University
2013, Award of Excellence, Arms Wide Open Foundation
2012, Elected to the John Morgan Society, University of Pennsylvania
2010, William Osler Patient Oriented Research Award, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2009, Distinguished Speaker, Washington University Neuro-oncology Seminar Series
2009, Eagles Fly for Leukemia Lifetime Achievement Award
2009, Elected to the Interurban Clinical Club
2009, Leonard Berwick Memorial Teaching Award, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, for integrating the basic and clinical sciences
2008, Outstanding Basic Science Abstract, Advances in Neuroblastoma Research 2008
2007, Elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation
2007, Oski Award Recipient, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
2007, The Gordon F. Bloom Lectureship in Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
2006, Brent Eley Visiting Professor in Pediatric Oncology, Children's Hospital of Denver
2004-2005, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Faculty Honor Roll
2004, Elected to the Society for Pediatric Research
2000, Ethel Brown Foerderer Fund Award
1998, 1998 Eunice and Irving Leopold Annual Scientific Symposium Lecturer
1997, 1997 American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Young Investigator Award
1997, American Society of Clinical Oncology Career Development Award
1996, American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Career Development Award
1996, American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award
1996, Molecular Aspects of Pediatric Science Scholarship
1996, Seligson Award: Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Symposium
1995, Merit Award: American Society of Clinical Oncology
1993, American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Fellow
1989, Pincus Award: Outstanding Clinician of Graduating Medical School Class
1988, Alpha Omega Alpha
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
American Association for Cancer Research Academy (AACR)
- Fellow
- 2010-present, Stand up to Cancer Review Committee
- 2009-present, Pediatric Oncology Task Force
American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO)
- 2010-present, Professional Development Committee
Childhood Cancer Data Initiative Open Targets Project
- Co-leader
Children’s Oncology Group (COG)
- 2011-2018, Scientific Council and Associate Chair
Foundation of the NIH Working Group: Pediatric Preclinical Testing Public-Private Partnership
NCI Board of Scientific Advisors ad hoc Working Group: Childhood Cancer Data Initiative
NCI Cancer Moonshot Pediatric Immunotherapy Discovery and Development Steering Committee
- 2019-2024, Chair
Pediatric Immunotherapy Network
- 2023-present, Co-Chair, Steering Committee
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial Positions
2020-present, Editorial Board, Cancer Discovery
Academic and Institutional Committees
2015-present, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group Faculty Review Committee
2014-2015, Division of Genomics and Diagnostics CE Track Faculty Search Committee, co-chair
2012-present, Combined Degree Admissions Committee, Genomics and Computational Biology Graduate Group, chair
2011-present, William Osler Patient Oriented Research Award Committee
2011-present, Sarcoma Translational Science Search Committee, co-chair
2010-present, Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility
2010-present, Institutional Systems Biology Advisory Committee
2009-present, CCCR Basic Science Search Committee
2008-present, Cancer Center Biostatistics Core Advisory Committee
2007-present, Pediatric Oncology Program Co-Leader, Abramson Cancer Center
2007-present, Faculty Advisory Committee on Compliance
2005-present, Research Affinity Group Council
2000-present, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania
2000-present, Program Director and Chair, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Committee
1999-present, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Committee
1996-present, Fellowship Committee, Divisions of Hematology/Oncology
Education & training
Medical Degree
MD - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Internship
Pediatrics - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Residency
Pediatrics - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship
Hematology/Oncology - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Post-doctoral Research and Clinical Fellow in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Publications
Selected Publications
Grossmann LD, Chen CH, Uzun Y, Thadi A, Wolpaw AJ, Louault K, Goldstein Y, Surrey LF, Martinez D, Calafatti M, Gerelus M, Gao P, Lee L, Patel K, Kaufman RS, Shani G, Farrel A, Moshitch-Moshkovitz S, Grimaldi P, Shapiro M, Kendsersky NM, Lindsay JM, Casey CE, Krytska K, Scolaro L, Tsang M, Groff D, Matkar S, Kalna JR, Mycek E, McDevitt J, Runbeck E, Patel T, Bernt KM, Asgharzadeh S, DeClerck YA, Mosse YP, Tan K, Maris JM. Identification and Characterization of Chemotherapy-Resistant High-Risk Neuroblastoma Persister Cells. Cancer Discov. 2024;14(12):2387-406.
Bosse KR, Giudice AM, Lane MV, McIntyre B, Schurch PM, Pascual-Pasto G, Buongervino SN, Suresh S, Fitzsimmons A, Hyman A, Gemino-Borromeo M, Saggio J, Berko ER, Daniels AA, Stundon J, Friedrichsen M, Liu X, Margolis ML, Li MM, Tierno MB, Oxnard GR, Maris JM, Mosse YP. Serial Profiling of Circulating Tumor DNA Identifies Dynamic Evolution of Clinically Actionable Genomic Alterations in High-Risk Neuroblastoma. Cancer Discov. 2022;12(12):2800-19. Epub 2022/09/16. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-22-0287. PubMed PMID: 36108156; PMCID: PMC9722579.
Yarmarkovich, M, Marshall, QF, Warrington, JM, Premaratne, R, Farrel, A, Groff, D, Li, W, di Marco, M, Runbeck, E, Truong, H, Toor, JS, Tripathi, S, Nguyen, S, Shen, H, Noel, T, Church, NL, Weiner, A, Kendsersky, N, Martinez, D, Weisberg, R, Christie, M, Eisenlohr, L, Bosse, KR, Dimitrov, DS, Stevanovic, S, Sgourakis, NG, Kiefel, BR, Maris, JM. Retraction Note: Cross-HLA targeting of intracellular oncoproteins with peptide-centric CARs. Nature. 2023. Epub 20231108. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06731-z. PubMed PMID: 37938785.
Bosse KR, Raman P, Zhu Z, Lane M, Martinez D, Heitzeneder S, Rathi KS, Kendsersky NM, Randall M, Donovan L, Morrissy S, Sussman RT, Zhelev DV, Feng Y, Wang Y, Hwang J, Lopez G, Harenza JL, Wei JS, Pawel B, Bhatti T, Santi M, Ganguly A, Khan J, Marra MA, Taylor MD, Dimitrov S, Mackall CL, Maris JM. Identification of GPC2 as an Oncoprotein and Candidate Immunotherapeutic Target in High-Risk Neuroblastoma. Cancer Cell. 2017;32(3):295–309. [Epub ahead of print]
Maris JM, Mosse YP, Bradfield JP, Hou C, Monni S, Scott RH, Asgharzadeh S, Attiyeh EF, Diskin SJ, Laudenslager M, Winter C, Cole KA, Glessner JT, Kim C, Frackelton EC, Casalunovo T, Eckert AW, Capasso M, Rappaport EF, McConville C, London WB, Seeger RC, Rahman N, Devoto M, Grant SF, Li H, Hakonarson H. Chromosome 6p22 locus associated with clinically aggressive neuroblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jun 12;358(24):2585-93. PubMed PMID: 18463370; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2742373.
Mossé YP, Laudenslager M, Longo L, Cole KA, Wood A, Attiyeh EF, Laquaglia MJ, Sennett R, Lynch JE, Perri P, Laureys G, Speleman F, Kim C, Hou C, Hakonarson H, Torkamani A, Schork NJ, Brodeur GM, Tonini GP, Rappaport E, Devoto M, Maris JM. Identification of ALK as a major familial neuroblastoma predisposition gene. Nature. 2008 Oct 16;455(7215):930-5. PubMed PMID: 18724359; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2672043.