Specialty:
Head and neck surgery, cancer cell biology.
Contact Information:
- Appointment Scheduler: (984) 974-0000
- Surgery Scheduler: Marsela Cuellar 984-974-6337
- Executive Assistant: Dawn Wilson (919) 843-7091
Education:
- MD: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 1985-1989
- Internship: Department of General Surgery, University of North Carolina Hospitals, 1989-1990
- Residency: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina Hospitals, 1990-1994
- Fellowship: Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina Hospitals, 1994-1996
- MMHC: Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, 2009-2010
- A. Privatim, Honorary Master of Arts, Yale University, 2017
Professional Experience:
- Chair, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 2018-present
- Thomas J. Dark Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, 2018-present
- Professor: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 2018-present
- Professor: Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, 2013-2018
- Section Chief: Section of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, 2012-2018
- Professor, Otolaryngology: Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, 2012-2018
- Director: Head and Neck Disease Center, Smilow Cancer Hospital, 2012-2018
- Co-Director: Virus and Other Infection-associated Cancers (VOIC) Program, Yale Cancer Center, 2012-2018
- Professor with Tenure: Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University, 2012-2012
- Barry and Amy Baker Chair in Laryngeal, Head and Neck Research, Vanderbilt University, 2012-2012
- Co-leader, Thoracic and Head & Neck Program, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, 2009-2012
- Adjunct Associate Professor Surgery, Meharry Medical College, 2008-2012
- Ingram Professor of Cancer Research, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University, 2006-2012
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University, 2003-2012
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, 2003-2012
- Director, Barry Baker Laboratory of Head and Neck Oncology, Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University, 2003-2012
- Chief Otolaryngology, VA Medical Center, 2003-2004
- Co-director, Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Resident Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2002-2003
- Assistant Professor, Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2001-2001
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2001-2003
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2001-2003
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2001-2003
- Assistant Professor, Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2000-2001
- Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1996-2001
Honors:
- 2016-2018 “America’s Top Doctors for Cancer,” Executive List, Castle Connolly
- 2009-2018 “America’s Top Doctors,” Editions 8-14, Castle Connolly
- 2005-2018 “America’s Top Doctors for Cancer,” Editions, Castle Connolly
- 2015 “Top Doctors for Cancer,” Newsweek Magazine
- 2014 Presidential Citation, AHNS, American Head and Neck Society
- 2014 “America’s Top Doctors – New York Metro Area,” Edition 17, Castle Connolly
- 2011 5-star Patient Satisfaction Awards for Overall Quality of Doctor Care
- Given for achieving overall quality of care in the 90th-99th percentile
- Professional Research Consultants (PRC) in Omaha, NE
- 2010 “America’s Top Physicians”, Consumers’ Research Council of America & SLD Industries, Inc.
- 2004 Distinguished Service Award in Scientific Programs, Exhibits, Continuing Education Courses and Instructional Course, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation
- 2002 Harris P. Mosher Award, Recognizing excellence in clinical research, The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society
- 2000 Jefferson Pilot Fellowship, Recognizing the outstanding Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine
- 1994 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc., Resident Research Award, 1st prize
- 1994 Nathan A. Womack Scholar, Recognizing the outstanding surgical resident
- 1991- 1992 Newton D. Fischer Society Temporal Bone Dissection Award
- 1989 Michiko Kuno Award for Best Presentation of John B. Graham, Student Research Society
- 1989 Graduated with Honors and Distinction, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
- 1989 Deborah C. Leary Award, For the outstanding medical student research paper
- 1988 Alpha Omega Alpha
- 1986-1989 Academic Honors, Medical School
- 1985 Phi Lambda Upsilon (Honorary Chemical Society)
- 1985 Student Research & Recognition Foundation Award, Recognition for outstanding Senior Student Majoring in Chemistry
- 1985 Graduated with Honors in Chemistry
- 1981-1985 John Motley Morehead Scholarship
- 1984 Phi Beta Kappa
- 1982 Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society)
Recent Publications:
For a complete list of recent publications, please visit Dr. Yarbrough’s PubMed page.
Active Grants:
Title: Head and Neck Cancer SPORE: Overcoming Treatment Resistance in Head and Neck Cancer (a multi-project award)
Project Number: P50-DE030707(NIH); CON80003835(GR116824) (Yale Univ.)
Name of PD/PI: Barbara Burtness (Yale); Wendell Yarbrough (UNC)
Source of Support: NIH NCI NIDCR; Yale University
Primary Place of Performance: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Project/Proposal Start and End Date: (MM/YYYY) (if available): 09/22/2020 – 06/30/2025
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $487,319
Title: Exploring mechanisms of therapeutic demethylation effects in HPV-associated head and neck cancer
Project Number: R01-DE027942
Name of PD/PI: Wendell Yarbrough
Source of Support: NIH National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research
Primary Place of Performance: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Project/Proposal Start and End Date: (MM/YYYY) (if available): 06/01/2019 – 07/31/2024
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $2,102,023
Title: Dissecting NF-kB pathway in HPV-associated head and neck cancer
Project Number: R01-DE031297
Name of PD/PI: Wendell Yarbrough
Source of Support: NIH National Institute of Dental and Cran
Primary Place of Performance: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Project/Proposal Start and End Date: (MM/YYYY) (if available): 03/01/2023 – 12/31/2027
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $2,565,330
Title: From Basic Science to Clinical Application: Developing a Clinical Assay to Guide Patient Therapy in HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer
Project Number: 2023-FLG-0049
Name of PD/PI: Wendell Yarbrough
Source of Support: North Carolina Biotechnology Center
Primary Place of Performance: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Project/Proposal Start and End Date: (MM/YYYY) (if available): 07/01/2023 – 06/30/2024
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $20,000
Title: Observational study to validate HPV DNA genotyping and prognostic genomic biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of HPV-associated HNSCC
Project Number: U01-DE029754
Name of PD/PI: Wendell Yarbrough
Source of Support: NIH National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research
Primary Place of Performance: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Project/Proposal Start and End Date: (MM/YYYY) (if available): 07/01/2020 – 04/30/2025
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $3,766,762
Completed Grants:
Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center – Cancer Center Support Grant Supplement: Molecular and Immunologic Profile of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancers Among HIV-Infected Individuals. 8/1/2016 – 8/31/2018;
PI: Wendell Yarbrough, Brinda Emu
Direct costs per year: $59,701 Effort: 5%
NIH/NCI – 5P30 CA016359-37: Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center:
8/1/2007 – 7/31/2017
PI: Schulman
Total costs for project period: $1,561,565 Effort: 5%
Plexxikon, Inc.: Role of TRKC in Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma:
10/01/2014-03/31/2015
PI: Wendell Yarbrough
Total costs for project period: $66,464 Effort: 1%
NIH/NIDCR – R21DE022641: Role of TrkC in Neurotropic Salivary Cancers:
09/01/2013-08/31/2015
P.I.: Sergey Ivanov, PhD. / (Co-Investigator) Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Direct costs per year: $125,000 Percent effort: 3%
NCI/NIH – CCSG – P30CA016359: Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Biospecimen and Clinical Data Acquisition: 09/01/2013-08/31/2014
PI: Wendell Yarbrough
Direct costs per year: $60,059 Effort: 1%
Yale Cancer Center – T-Tare: Divide and Conquer: Advancing Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: 07/01/2013-06/30/2014
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Direct costs per year: $125,000 Percent effort: 10%, no salary
Yale Cancer Center – Pilot Project: GABA-regulated SOX10 Signaling as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Adenoid Cystic and Breast Basal-like Carcinomas:
06/01/2013-05/31/2014
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Direct costs per year: $ 50,000 Percent effort: 2%, no salary
ACCRF Grant – Role of TrkC in Neurotropic Salivary Cancers The goal of the proposal is to explore the molecular mechanisms of TrkC and NT-3 involvement in ACC to assess efficacy of Trk inhibitors as a potential therapeutic strategy:
02/16/2013-02/15/2014
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Direct costs per year: $14,318 Percent effort: 1%
NIH/NIDCR – R21DE023228: Validated Modeling and Culture of Salivary Cancers the goal of this project is to create mouse xenograft models of human salivary cancers of multiple histologies:
12/01/2012-11/30/2014
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Direct costs per year: $137,500 Percent effort: 5%
NIH/NIDCR – R01DE013173:Tumor suppressor qualities and mechanisms of LZAP activity Determine LZAP tumor suppressor qualities and describe interactions with the p53-induced phosphatase, Wip1: 12/01/2012-11/30/2016
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Direct costs per year: $250,000 Percent effort: 16%
NIH/NIDCR Funded Extension, (CCSG) Cancer Center Support Grant- P30CA016359:The goal of this project is to support research and education to better facilitate the prevention, treatment and care of cancer related patients:
08/09/2007-07/31/2013
Role: Co-leader of Molecular Virology Program
P.I.: Thomas Lynch, MD
Direct costs per year: $2,900,000 Percent effort: 5%
NIH/NIDCR -R21DE018244: Cortactin in HNSCC Tumor Progression:
8/01/2007-7/31/2010
P.I.: Alissa Weaver, PhD. – Principal Investigator, Wendell Yarbrough, MD – Co-Investigator
Total costs for project period: $300,000.00
Percent effort: 5%
NCI – Comprehensive Minority Institution /Cancer Center Partnership (U54, PI, Harold Moses) – U54CA163072: Pre-Pilot Project. Identification of serum biomarkers in HNSCC;
9/1/2006-8/31/2007
P.I.: Wendell G. Yarbrough, M.D. and Sabina Francis M.D., Co-Principal Investigators
Total costs for project period: $25,000
Percent effort: 5%, no salary
Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation Award: Biomarkers for HNSCC and Targets for Novel Therapies; 9/1/2006-8/31/2007
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Total costs for project period: $300,000
Percent effort: 5%, no salary
AAO-HNSF – Percy Memorial Research Award – American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation: Effect of PI3K inhibition in HPV-associated HNSCC
07/01/2006-06/30/2007
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Project period: $25,000.
Percent effort: 2%, no salary
THANC – Thyroid, Head and Neck Cancer Foundation, Senior Investigator Award-Head and Neck Cancer Research: Serum biomarkers for head & neck cancer;
7/1/2005 renewable yearly through 6/30/2009
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Total costs for project period: $50,000
Percent effort: 5%, no salary
NIH/NIDCR – R01DE013173: Novel protein regulator of tumor suppressor ARF & NF-kB;
5/1/2005-4/31/2010
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Total costs for project period: $1,250,000
Percent effort: 5%
Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation Award: Proteome Profiling of Human Serum
Project period: 7/1/2005-6/30/2006
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Total costs for project period: $50,000
Percent effort: 5%, no salary
ACOSOG – American College of Surgeons Oncology Group: A trial of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node lymphadenectomy for patients with T1 or T2 clinically N0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma
Project period: 1/1/2004 – 5/31/2006
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD – Vanderbilt University. Institutional Principal
Percent effort: 3%, no salary
NIH/NCI-R21CA102161: Gene Expression as a Predictor of Metastasis in HNSCC
Project period: 7/01/2003-6/30/2005
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Total costs for project period: $200,000
Percent effort: 5%
ACOSOG – American College of Surgeons Oncology Group: A trial of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node lymphadenectomy for patients with T1 or T2 clinically N0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma
Project period: 2/1/2002 – 4/30/2003
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Percent effort: 5%, no salary
Medical Alumni Endowment Research Grant: Pre-clinical Studies of Tumor Suppressor ARF in Organotypic Raft Modeled Head and Neck Cancer
Project period: 6/1/2001-5/31/2002
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD – Mentor. Adam M. Zanation
Total costs for project period: $2,000
Percent effort: 2%, no salary
Alpha Omega Alpha Research Fellowship- Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society: ARF armed oncolytic viral therapy for head and neck cancer: preclinical studies
Project period: 4/1/2001-4/1/2002
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD – Adam M. Zanation, Recipient
Total costs for project period: $3,500
Percent effort: 2%, no salary
Scott Neil Schwirck Fellowship – UNC School of Medicine: Preclinical studies of ARF tumor suppressor therapy for head and neck cancer
Project period: 1/1/2001–1/01/2002
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Total costs for project period: $2,500
Percent effort: 2%, no salary
University Research Council – University of North Carolina: Development of a Smoking Prevention Video targeting middle school age children
Project period: 1/2000-12/2001
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD, Carol G. Shores, M.D., Ph.D
Total costs for project period: $10,000
Percent effort: 3%, no salary
University Research Council – University of North Carolina – Cancer Prevention Program: A Controlled Study of the Effectiveness of a Smoking and Alcohol Prevention Video and Presentation Relating to Head and Neck Cancer in Middle School Students
Project period: 1/2000-12/2001
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD, Adam M. Zanation, Carol G. Shores, M.D., Ph.D
Total costs for project period: $4,000
Percent effort: 3%, no salary
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research-R01DE013173:ARF as a therapeutic agent in oral malignancies.
Project period: 4/1/2000-3/31/2004
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Total costs for project period: $998,320
Percent effort: 2%
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Inc AAO-HNS Foundation Resident Research Grant: Cytokeratins as Molecular Markers for Head and Neck Cancer
Project period: 7/1/2000-6/30/2001
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD – Mentor. Marta K. Taylor, Recipient
Total costs for project period: $10,000
Percent effort: 2%, no salary
Active Clinical Trials:
Fox Chase Cancer Center-1407014279: Phase II trial of carboplatin/paclitaxel and cetuximab, followed by
carboplatin/paclitaxel/cetuximab and erlotinib, with correlative studies in patients with
metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
P.I: Barbara Burtness, MD
Direct costs per year: N/A
Project period: March 16, 2011-Current
Effort: 2%, no salary
Yale University Investigator Initiated Trial – 1404013771: Window study to assess the activity of demethylation therapy in patients with HPV positive compared with HPV negative HNSCC.
P.I: Wendell Yarbrough, MD & Hari Deshpande, MD
Direct costs per year: N/A
Project period: June 30, 1994-Current
Effort: 5%, no salary
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-1403013536: ECOG 3311: Phase II Randomized Trial of Transoral Surgical Resection Followed by Low-dose or Standard-dose IMRT in Resectable p16+ Locally Advanced Oropharynx Cancer
P.I: Benjamin Judson, MD
Role on project: Co-Investigator
Total costs for project period: N/A
Project period: August 1, 2013-February 28, 2023
Percent effort: 1%, no salary
Completed Clinical Trials:
AbbVie (Abbott Pharmaceuticals) – Investigator initiated Pre-Clinical Study: PARP inhibition as a molecular therapeutic strategy to treat a subset of HNSCC:
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Direct costs per year: $30,000
Project Period: : 08/01/2013-02/01/2014
Effort: 5%, no salary
NIH – Clinical Trial, Lead Site at University of Pittsburgh – Related to RC1 Grant: Comparison of biomarker modulation by inhibition of EGFR and/or src Family kinases using Erlotinib and Dasatinib in head and neck and lung cancers:
P.I.: Jennifer Grandis, MD
Role on Project: Institutional Principal Investigator, Vanderbilt University
Project Period-03/01/2010 to 03/01/2013
Percent effort: 5%, no salary
Onyx Pharmaceuticals: An open label, single arm study of intratumoral ONYX-015 plus
Intravenous cisplatin/5-FU inpatients with squamous cell carcinoma of the
head and neck (SCCHN) refractory to cisplatin/5 FU
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Total costs for project period: N/A
Project period: 10/1/2002 – 2/28/2003
Percent effort: 5%, no salary
Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship: ONYX 015 intratumoral phase III clinical trial and preclinical studies of ARF armed oncolytic viral therapy for head and neck cancer
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD – Mentor. Adam M. Zanation
Total costs for project period: $25,000
Project period: 6/1/2001- 5/30/2002
Percent effort: 5%, no salary
Pfizer/ONYX Pharmaceuticals: A randomized phase 3 trial of intratumoral injection of CI-1042 (ONYX015) plus intravenous cisplatin/5-fluorouracil versus intravenous cisplatin/5-fluorouracil alone in patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (protocol 1042-001)
P.I.: Wendell Yarbrough, MD
Total costs for project period: N/A
Project period: 11/1/2000 – 2/28/2003
Percent effort: 5%, no salary
