Dr. Steven P Balk
Dr. Balk's main objective has been to conduct disease focused integrated basic and translational research and to equip MD and/or PhD trainees to do the same. The initial focus of his lab was immunology, but in 1993 he initiated a major research effort in prostate cancer (PCa).
His lab developed methods to analyze advanced metastatic PCa through the use of bone marrow biopsies and showed that one mechanism for disease progression after androgen deprivation therapy was through mutations in the androgen receptor (AR). These mutations occur specifically in patients treated with an AR antagonist, flutamide, and are the result of strong selective pressure exerted by this drug. In subsequent studies his lab has further established a critical role for AR in PCa that relapses after androgen deprivation therapy, and identified mechanisms that mediate AR reactivation (including enhanced androgen synthesis by tumor cells). These results have led directly to successful clinical trials with translational as well as clinical endpoints. An additional current focus is mechanisms of progression from low grade to high grade prostate cancer, which will have an impact on management of low grade disease. In conjunction with these research efforts, he has directed the establishment of a prostate cancer tissue bank and correlative clinical database.
His teaching efforts have focused primarily on exposing clinical fellows to basic research and mentoring them in the conduct of translational and clinical research, and in training basic research PhDs. His major clinical contributions are currently in the expansion of our clinical database and tissue bank for PCa and in the design and execution of clinical trials.
Positions
Intern in Medicine, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA: 1983-1984
Resident in Medicine, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA: 1984-1985
Clinical Fellow in Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Beth Israel Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA: 1985-1988
Research Fellow, Beth Israel Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Harvard Medical School Boston, MA: 1986-1988
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA: 1988-1992
Staff Physician, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA: 1988-present
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA: 1992-1998
American Society for Clinical Investigation, member: 1996-present
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA: 1998-2010
Director, DNA Sequencing, quantitative RT-PCR, Laser Capture Microdissection Core Facilities, BIDMC: 2000-present
Assistant Director, BIDMC Training Grant in Cancer Biology: 2002-2006
Associate Editor, Journal of Immunology: 2002-2006
Director, BIDMC Training Grant in Cancer Biology: 2007-present
Association of American Physicians: 2010-present
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA: 2010-present
Senior Editor, Cancer Research: 2013-present
Education
BA: University of Pennsylvania: 1976
MD: Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program: 1983
PhD: Harvard University (PhD, Cell & Develop. Biology): 1983
Licensure and Certification
Massachusetts Medical License: 1984
American Board of Internal Medicine: 1986
Major Committee Assignments
Hospital/Medical School:
Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Selection Committee, BIDMC: 1998-present
Steering Committee, Harvard Translational Immunology Center, Harvard
University: 2005
Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) Admission Committee: 2007-present
PhD Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS): 2007-present
Harvard Program in Human Biology and Translational Medicine (HBTM): 2007-present
National:
Biochemical Endocrinology Study Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 1997
Prostate Cancer Study Section ad hoc reviewer DOD: 1999-2005
Biochemical Endocrinology Study Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 1999
SEP: Sex Based Differences in Immunity ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2001
Immunological Sciences Study Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2001
Experimental Immunology Study Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2002
Biochemical Endocrinology Study Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2002
SEP: Radiation Study Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2002
SEP: Environmental Health Sciences ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2002
Immunological Sciences Study Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2003
SEP: Urology Research Centers ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2003
SEP: Urology Development of Cell… ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2003
Subcommittee C, Prostate Cancer Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2004
Transplantation, Tolerance, and Tumor ad hoc reviewer NIH
Immunology Study Section: 2004
Urologic and Kidney Development and ad hoc reviewer NIH
Genitourinary Diseases Study Section: 2004
Subcommittee E, Cancer Epidemiology, ad hoc reviewer NIH
Prevention, and Control: 2005
Prostate Cancer Study Section ad hoc reviewer DOD: 2005
Prostate Cancer Program ad hoc reviewer NCI-Canada: 2005
Transplantation, Tolerance, and Tumor ad hoc reviewer NIH
Immunology Study Section: 2006
Co-chair, Androgen Working Group, NCI-
Prostate SPORE program: 2007
Urologic and Kidney Development and ad hoc reviewer NIH
Genitourinary Diseases Study Section: 2007
Louisiana Board of Regents Research Grants ad hoc reviewer: 2007
NCI-F Manpower & Training Grants Study ad hoc reviewer NIH
Section: 2007
Tumor Microenvironment Study Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2008
Urologic and Kidney Development and ad hoc reviewer NIH
Genitourinary Diseases Study Section: 2008
NCI-F Manpower & Training Grants Study Section member NIH: 2008-2012
Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program DOD Integration Panel: 2008-2009
Cancer Molecular Pathology Study Section ad hoc reviewer NIH: 2012
Awards and Honors
NCI, Physician Scientist Award: 1987
American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Research Award: 1992
Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award: 2008