Dr. Elizabeth M. Jaffee is a prominent American oncologist and cancer researcher whose work is helping advance the development of immunotherapies and cancer vaccines. Based at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, she has dedicated much of her career to finding innovative ways to help the immune system recognize and fight cancer.
She serves as Deputy Director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Dana and Albert “Cubby” Broccoli Professor of Oncology, and Co-Director of the Skip Viragh Center for Pancreas Cancer.
Education and Medical Career
Dr. Jaffee graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University in 1981 before earning her medical degree from New York Medical College in 1985.
She completed her medical residency at Presbyterian-University Hospital in Pittsburgh and pursued research training before joining Johns Hopkins University in 1989. In 1992, she became a member of its oncology faculty.
Over the years, she has established herself as a leading physician-scientist in cancer immunology, particularly in pancreatic and breast cancer research.
Transforming Cancer Treatment Through Immunotherapy
A major focus of Dr. Jaffee’s work is developing vaccines that encourage the immune system to recognize cancer cells.
Pancreatic cancer is particularly challenging because it can develop and spread without producing obvious symptoms in its early stages. Traditional treatments often struggle to control the disease, making new approaches especially important.
Dr. Jaffee’s research investigates how cancer cells avoid detection by the immune system and how therapeutic vaccines might overcome these defenses.
Her team has also investigated proteins such as Annexin A2, which appears to contribute to pancreatic cancer progression and the spread of cancer to other organs. Understanding these mechanisms could help researchers develop more effective targeted therapies.
An Important 2026 Development in Cancer Prevention
One of the most exciting developments associated with Dr. Jaffee’s research came in July 2026.
Johns Hopkins researchers reported encouraging first-in-human findings from an experimental vaccine targeting mutant KRAS, a genetic driver commonly associated with pancreatic cancer.
The study involved 20 people at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Researchers found that 18 participants, or 90%, developed a significant immune response after receiving the vaccine. Some vaccine-induced immune responses remained detectable for up to two years.
These findings represent an important step toward exploring whether the immune system could help prevent pancreatic cancer in people at elevated risk.
The researchers emphasized that the study primarily evaluated safety and immune responses. It has not yet established that the vaccine prevents pancreatic cancer, and further clinical research is necessary.
Leadership and Recognition
Beyond her laboratory work, Dr. Jaffee has played an influential role in national cancer research initiatives. She previously served as president of the American Association for Cancer Research and co-chaired the Blue Ribbon Panel for the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative.
She has also contributed to the National Cancer Advisory Board and serves as Chief Medical Advisor to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Her dedication to immunotherapy research, clinical innovation, and scientific leadership makes her an important figure in modern oncology.
Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee’s career demonstrates how determined scientific investigation can create new possibilities for diseases that have historically been difficult to treat. Her ongoing work offers hope for more effective cancer therapies and, potentially, new approaches to cancer prevention.
