Heft Neal Lab
The Heft Neal Lab focuses on identifying biomarkers of treatment resistance with a specific focus on how the tumor immune environment contributes to treatment failure in head and neck cancer. The goal of these studies is to personalize treatment regimens to improve cancer response as well as functional outcomes (speech and swallowing) after head and neck cancer treatment.
Explore the Heft Neal Lab
Head and neck cancer is a complex disease that can affect vital functions such as speaking, swallowing, and breathing. In the United States, tens of thousands of people are diagnosed each year, and while treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can be life‑saving, they may also lead to long‑term side effects that impact daily life.
Our team at the University of Michigan is working to better understand why some tumors respond to treatment while others fail to respond and to develop more personalized, less toxic therapies. We study how radiation interacts with the immune system within the tumor in head and neck cancer and use blood‑based biomarkers like circulating tumor DNA to track disease, detect recurrence earlier, and guide therapy choices. Our ultimate goal is to improve survival while preserving speech, swallowing, and quality of life for every patient.
Molly E Heft Neal, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,
Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction
