Overview
Dr. Timothy R. Donahue is a nationally recognized surgical oncologist, pancreatic surgeon, surgeon-scientist, and academic leader with expertise in pancreatic and other gastrointestinal cancers and complex pancreatic surgery. As Chair of the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and Surgeon-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, he leads a multidisciplinary department dedicated to providing exceptional surgical care while advancing scientific discovery and surgical education.
Dr. Donahue specializes in the surgical treatment of pancreatic and other gastrointestinal cancers, with particular expertise in pancreatic cancer and complex pancreatic surgery. His approach emphasizes multidisciplinary care, bringing together surgeons, medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other specialists to develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient. His clinical practice is closely integrated with research and clinical trials, providing patients access to promising new therapies and treatment approaches.
As a surgeon-scientist, Dr. Donahue’s research focuses on understanding the interaction between pancreatic cancer and the immune system and developing new strategies to overcome treatment resistance. His laboratory and translational research programs seek to move discoveries from the laboratory into clinical trials and, ultimately, improve outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Highlights
- 1Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2021
- 2
- 3Annals of surgical oncology · 2026
Publications
Funding
Active
4 grants- PIT32CA302559-01UCLA Surgeon-Scientist Basic Cancer Research Training Program (UCLA Surgeon-Scientist BCRTP)NCI · 2025–2030 · via NIH RePORTER
- PIR01CA290888-03Causes and Consequences of Adenosine Signaling in Pancreatic CancerNCI · 2024–2029 · via NIH RePORTER
- PIR01CA260678-05Targeting KRAS and adenosine mediated immunosuppression in pancreatic cancerNCI · 2021–2026 · via NIH RePORTER
- PIR01CA250529-05Leveraging Vulnerabilities Induced by STING Activation in Pancreatic CancerNCI · 2021–2026 · via NIH RePORTER
Completed grants (2)
- PIU01CA198846-05UCLA Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Platform for Treatment of Pancreas CancerNCI · 2015–2021 · via NIH RePORTER
- PIR01CA187678-05PET Imaging-guided Personalized Therapy in Pancreatic CancerNCI · 2014–2020 · via NIH RePORTER
Media highlights
- 33 Recent Hospital, Health System Executive MovesBecker's Hospital Review · November 2, 2026
- 61 Recent Hospital, Health System Executive MovesBecker's Hospital Review · October 5, 2026
- ‘Alarming’: Patients Who Need Cancer Surgery Waiting Longer For Initial TreatmentHealio · September 1, 2026
External relationships
Leadership Roles
Trethera Corp
Ownership
Trethera Corp
Advisory/Scientific Board Member
RenovoRx, Inc.
Professional Services
The Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles