Shay Sharon, DMD, MD, PhD, is a board-certified attending surgeon in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, a fellowship-trained cancer surgeon, and a scientist investigating head and neck cancer immunology.

His basic and translational research focuses on the immunology of head and neck cancer to develop personalized medicine. Specifically, his studies include:

• Characterizing the immune environment in animal models and human tissue.

• Modulating the immune environment of head and neck cancer using targeted therapy in animal models.

• Developing ex-vivo models to test novel therapies and personalize treatment.

Dr. Sharon has extensive training in animal models for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, translational research, human tissue experiments, and immune modulation models.

As a research fellow in head and neck cancer immunology at Providence Cancer Institute (2019, Portland, Oregon, USA), Dr. Sharon collaborated with Dr. Michael Gough and Dr. Bryan Bell. They continue their joint study of head and neck cancer.

As a clinical fellow at Boston University Medical Center (2022–2024, Boston, Massachusetts, USA), Dr. Sharon trained in head and neck surgery and microvascular reconstruction.

At the Faculty of Dental Medicine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dr. Sharon and Prof. Nardy Caspi collaborate with Prof. Nataly Kravchenko-Balasha to study head and neck heterogeneity using biophysical models for personalized medicine design; and with Prof. Gabriel Nussbaum to investigate the head and neck cancer microbiome for patient-specific treatments.

By combining his surgical and scientific expertise, Dr. Sharon is committed to implementing a comprehensive approach to treat cancer patients by characterization of their immune environment and tailor therapies individually.