Academic history

Jonathan Spicer, MD, PhD, is the Medical Director of the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) Thoracic Oncology Network, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and an Associate Professor of Surgery at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He studied for his degrees in Biology and Medicine before earning his PhD in Experimental Surgery at the same institution. He completed his advanced training in Cardiothoracic Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Additionally, he directs the McGill Advanced Thoracic and Upper GI Surgical Oncology Fellowship, appointed the Research Chair for the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons, and oversees the Canadian Cancer Trials Mesothelioma Working Group.

Speaking on clinical trials for thoracic cancers

Dr Jonathan Spicer is a leading expert in understanding the role of neutrophils in cancer progression, particularly through the study of neutrophil extracellular traps in cancer biology. He has contributed to the CheckMate 816 trial, evaluating neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), building on his interests in exploring immunotherapy treatment methods. His expertise extends to surgical enhanced recovery protocols, minimal access techniques for pulmonary surgery, and extended resections for thoracic malignancies. Dr Spicer is also actively involved in international Phase II/III trials, serving on steering committees for studies exploring novel pre-surgical therapies.