Moran Amit
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Head and Neck Surgery
About Dr. Moran Amit Dr. Moran Amit, MD PhD, is a visionary principal investigator and internationally recognized pioneer in cancer neuroscience at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Department of Head and Neck Surgery. As one of the founding leaders of this revolutionary field, Dr. Amit has established cancer neuroscience as a new hallmark of cancer through his groundbreaking research investigating how the nervous system contributes to tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. His laboratory has developed innovative experimental models and analytical approaches to study neural niche subpopulations and understand how solid tumors sculpt their microenvironment, particularly focusing on head and neck cancers and the role of peripheral nervous system interactions in invasion, metastasis, and chemotherapy response. Dr. Amit's transformative discoveries have fundamentally changed our understanding of cancer biology and treatment resistance. His team's landmark 2020 Nature publication revealed how p53 loss drives neuronal reprogramming in head and neck cancer, demonstrating that cancer cells actively remodel their neural microenvironment to promote tumor growth. Most notably, his groundbreaking 2025 Nature study uncovered a sophisticated mechanism by which cancer-associated nerve injury induces immunotherapy resistance across multiple cancer types. This revolutionary finding showed that cancer cells degrade protective nerve coverings, causing nerve injury that triggers chronic inflammation and immune exhaustion, leading to resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and gastric cancer. As a principal investigator on multiple NIH grants, including an R37 translational cancer biology grant, Dr. Amit leads several pioneering clinical trials testing rational combinations of neuromodulating and immune checkpoint blockade therapies. His preclinical studies have identified actionable therapeutic targets, with many neuromodulating agents already being off-patent, affordable drugs with established safety profiles, making them immediately accessible for clinical implementation. Through his work, Dr. Amit has demonstrated that targeting cancer-induced nerve injury signaling processes can restore responses to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, offering new hope for overcoming treatment resistance. Dr. Amit serves as a principal organizer and leader of the International Cancer Neuroscience Symposiums, the premier global gatherings that define the scientific direction of this emerging field. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications in premier journals including Nature, Cell, and Cancer Research, and recognition including MD Anderson's 'Wall of Science' award for high-impact scientific achievements, Dr. Amit has established himself as the preeminent figure in cancer neuroscience. His visionary leadership is positioning this field to revolutionize cancer treatment by establishing nervous system targeting as a fundamental pillar of cancer therapy, promising to transform patient survival, treatment responses, and quality of life across multiple cancer types.
The Cancer Neuroscience Program
Education & Training
PhD, The Technion Israel Institute of Technology, 2016
MD, Tel Aviv University, 2007