In Memoriam: Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD.

The Melanoma Research Foundation joins the melanoma community in expressing our profound condolences on the recent passing of Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD. Dr. Weber was an internationally recognized and trailblazing pioneer in cancer immune therapy and melanoma and made countless contributions to these fields throughout his remarkable career. As an immunotherapy expert, Dr. Weber’s investigations and research findings have brought innovative advancements in melanoma treatment from the laboratory to clinical practice. Collectively, Dr. Weber’s contributions have greatly impacted the entire melanoma community and have enabled tremendous progress for countless patients, survivors and caregivers.   

Dr. Weber was the esteemed deputy director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center and codirector of the Melanoma Research Program at NYU Langone Health. Prior to this most recent role, Dr. Weber also held leadership positions at H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center and USC’s Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. He was a recognized leader in forging collaborative partnerships between basic scientists and clinical and translational investigators to advance cancer care. Throughout his decades long career, Dr. Weber led multiple practice changing clinical trials including the CheckMate 238 Phase III adjuvant nivolumab trial in stage III melanoma that established the first adjuvant use of anti-PD-1 antibodies. He also presented on the randomized Phase II trial of pembrolizumab and a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine compared to pembrolizumab alone in patients with melanoma. This was a landmark study in showing the first time randomized clinical data supporting the efficacy of a vaccine in preventing cancer relapse.  

The MRF is incredibly honored and indebted to Dr. Weber for his many years of service to our community. In 2021, Dr. Weber helped produce a series of Animated Patient Videos that helped synthesize a variety of melanoma topics such as understanding, diagnosing and treating melanoma, an overview of genetic mutations of melanoma and TIL cell therapy and clinical trials for melanoma. This series continues to benefit melanoma patients, caregivers and survivors across the spectrum of their melanoma journey. In addition to his countless contributions to the melanoma patient community, Dr. Weber also helped steer the melanoma scientific community having served on the MRF’s Scientific Advisory Council and its Breakthrough Consortium – a network of 23 centers of excellence in melanoma that collaborate to accelerate the research and development of the most promising therapies in melanoma treatment. Dr. Weber served as an MRF grant reviewer and grant mentor and reviewed patient education materials. In 2019, the MRF honored Dr. Weber with its Humanitarian Award at that year’s New York City annual gala for his exceptional contributions to melanoma detection and treatment.

MRF’s Board Chair, Doug Brodman, offers, “It is with great sorrow that we have heard of Jeff’s passing. Jeff was a passionate doctor and researcher who had an immeasurable impact on the melanoma field. His work had an enormous impact on the survivorship of many melanoma patients, including myself. His legacy and work will carry on with all those he has touched personally through his career’s work.”

Our deepest condolences are extended to the family, friends, colleagues and patients of Dr. Weber’s and the countless cancer community members whose lives have been touched by his inspirational contributions.