USC Westside Cancer Center And Center for Applied Molecular Medicine Appoints New Director

David B. Agus, M.D. brings his talents in researching new treatments for prostate cancer to his role as the director of the new University of Southern California (USC) Westside Cancer Center located in Beverly Hills, as well as directing the newly established Center for Applied Molecular Medicine at the USC Health Science Campus.

Agus, who recently joined the Keck School of Medicine of USC, is focused on providing the most up-to-date care for patients at the Center, located at 8900 Wilshire Blvd.

“This multi-disciplinary center is home to promising and exciting advances in treatment,” says Agus. “I’m delighted and honored to team up with USC, and I look forward to moving closer to the goal of curing this disease.”

Among Agus’ methods of advancing prostate cancer research is proteomic technology. By integrating clinical trials, pre-clinical studies and molecularly targeted therapy – honing in on molecular and cellular changes specific to cancer – he has had success in predicting which patients will respond best to certain anti-cancer therapies. He will lead a team of researchers at the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Agus’ resume includes serving as director of the Spielberg Family Center for Applied Proteomics and Research Director of the Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. While there, he focused on factors influencing the development and progression of cancer.

In the laboratory, Agus’ research focuses on the biology of cancer and the development of new drugs and treatments for cancer. By using new technologies, in the field of proteomics and nanotechnology, he has learned valuable information regarding “on” and “off” switches of the cancer. This may lead to a more complete understanding of what causes cancer to develop, progress and respond to treatment.

Agus has published numerous articles and received several awards in the fields of cancer research and drug development. Agus graduated cum laude with honors in molecular biology from Princeton University. He received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his medical internship and residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.