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UF Health University of Florida
Division of Hematology & Oncology Department of Medicine in the College of Medicine
Bently P Doonan

Bently P Doonan, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor

Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Business Phone: (352) 273-7832
Business Email: bently.doonan@medicine.ufl.edu

About Bently P Doonan

My name is Bently Doonan, MD, and I am an assistant professor in the University of Florida Division of Hematology & Oncology. I received both my Master of Biomedical Sciences, specialization in cancer immunology, and my medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Following medical school, I completed an internal medicine residency and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at UF. During my time at UF, I took on multiple leadership roles, including chief resident of internal medicine, curriculum development and quality and efficiency.

I am board certified in internal medicine and oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and an active member of multiple professional organizations, including the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research.

My clinical and research interests focus on melanoma, immunotherapy development and design, brain metastases and identification of microenvironment targets to induce an immunogenic response in advanced metastatic disease.

As a physician, my goal is to improve the lives of patients with advanced skin cancer and brain metastases through novel treatment approaches using immunotherapy to minimize toxicity and maximize potential benefits. I am also passionate about cancer research and actively design and develop clinical trials for patients with unmet needs in cancer.

During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and rooting on the Gators.

Accomplishments

Florida ACP First Place Research category
2017 · American College of Physicians
Intern of the year in Internal Medicine
2015-2016 · University of Florida College of Medicine
Resident Teacher Award
2015-2016 · University of Florida College of Medicine

Board Certifications

  • Internal Medicine
    American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Oncology
    American Board of Internal Medicine

Clinical Profile

Specialties
  • Cancer
Areas of Interest
  • Melanoma
  • Metastasis
  • Metastatic Brain Tumor
  • Skin Cancer

Research Profile

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

0000-0001-5401-2910

Areas of Interest
  • Immunogenic Response to MSS Colorectal Cancer
  • Immunotherapy Development
  • Metastasis
  • Metastatic Brain Tumor
  • Metastatic Melanoma

Publications

2023
Evaluating Treatment Options and the Multidisciplinary Care of Ocular Toxicities of MEK Inhibitors.
Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.). 37(3):138-139 [DOI] 10.46883/2023.25920990. [PMID] 37094287.
PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2023
Oral IRAK-4 Inhibitor CA-4948 Is Blood-Brain Barrier Penetrant and Has Single-Agent Activity against CNS Lymphoma and Melanoma Brain Metastases
Clinical Cancer Research. 29(9):1751-1762 [DOI] 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-1682.
Publisher’s Site
2023
The Safety and Efficacy of Concurrent Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Therapy with Practitioner and Researcher Recommendations
World Neurosurgery. [DOI] 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.09.042.
Publisher’s Site
2022
GILT Expression in Human Melanoma Cells Enhances Generation of Antigenic Peptides for HLA Class II-Mediated Immune Recognition.
International journal of molecular sciences. 23(3) [DOI] 10.3390/ijms23031066. [PMID] 35162988.
4 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2022
Peptide Modification Diminishes HLA Class II-restricted CD4+ T Cell Recognition of Prostate Cancer Cells.
International journal of molecular sciences. 23(23) [DOI] 10.3390/ijms232315234. [PMID] 36499557.
PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2019
Endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagic and apoptotic cell death, and immune activation by a natural triterpenoid in human prostate cancer cells.
Journal of cellular biochemistry. 120(4):6264-6276 [DOI] 10.1002/jcb.27913. [PMID] 30378157.
4 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2018
Autophagy-dependent crosstalk between GILT and PAX-3 influences radiation sensitivity of human melanoma cells.
Journal of cellular biochemistry. 119(2):2212-2221 [DOI] 10.1002/jcb.26383. [PMID] 28857256.
11 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2015
Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy: Exploiting the HLA Class II Pathway in Vaccine Design.
Journal of clinical & cellular immunology. 6(4) [PMID] 26807308.
5 citations · PubMed
2012
A possible cross-talk between autophagy and apoptosis in generating an immune response in melanoma.
Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death. 17(10):1066-78 [DOI] 10.1007/s10495-012-0745-y. [PMID] 22847295.
26 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2012
Mechanisms regulating enhanced human leukocyte antigen class II-mediated CD4 + T cell recognition of human B-cell lymphoma by resveratrol.
Leukemia & lymphoma. 53(2):305-14 [DOI] 10.3109/10428194.2011.615423. [PMID] 21854084.
20 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2011
Regulation of Th1/Th17 cytokines and IDO gene expression by inhibition of calpain in PBMCs from MS patients.
Journal of neuroimmunology. 232(1-2):179-85 [DOI] 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.09.030. [PMID] 21075457.
29 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2010
A systematic approach to virus-virus interactions.
Virus research. 149(1):1-9 [DOI] 10.1016/j.virusres.2010.01.002. [PMID] 20093154.
140 citations · PubMed · Publisher’s Site
2010
Ganoderic Acid DM: An Alternative Agent for the Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer.
The open prostate cancer journal. 3:78-85 [PMID] 24790681.
15 citations · PubMed
2010
HLA Class II Antigen Presentation in Prostate Cancer Cells: A Novel Approach to Prostate Tumor Immunotherapy.
The Open cancer immunology journal. 3:1-7 [PMID] 24163711.
10 citations · PubMed

Grants

Mar 2023 ACTIVE
A Phase 1b/2 Study of OKI-179 Plus Binimetinib in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors and Activating Mutations in the RAS Pathway (Phase 1b) and in Patients With Advanced NRAS-Mutated Melanoma (Phase 2)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: ONCOBAY CLINICAL via ONKURE
Mar 2023 – Oct 2023
NAUTILUS: A PHASE 1B/2 STUDY OF OKI-179 PLUS BINIMETINIB IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED SOLID TUMORS AND ACTIVATING MUTATIONS IN THE RAS PATHWAY (PHASE 1B) AND IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED NRAS-MUTATED MELANOMA (PHASE 2)
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: ONCOBAY CLINICAL via ONKURE
Jun 2022 ACTIVE
A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study of Adjuvant Cemiplimab Versus Placebo after Surgery and Radiation Therapy in Patients with High Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: ICON CLINICAL RESEARCH INC via REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS
Apr 2022 ACTIVE
Novel RNA-Nanoparticle vaccine for treatment of early melanoma recurrence following adjuvant anti-PD-1 antibody therapy
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: FL DEPT OF HLTH BIOMED RES PGM/J&E KING
Jan 2022 – Oct 2022
ORBIT-m: Optimal Response Biome for ImmunoTherapy in Melanoma
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: PPD INVESTIGATOR SERVICES LLC via MICROBA
Sep 2021 ACTIVE
Curis #3
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding: CURIS

Education

Fellowship in Hematology and Oncology
2019-2021 · University of Florida College of Medicine
Residency in Internal Medicine
2015-2019 · University of Florida College of Medicine
Medical Degree
2011-2015 · Medical University of South Carolina
Master of Biomedical Sciences in Microbiology and Immunology
2008-2010 · Medical University of South Carolina
Bachelors of Science in Biology
2004-2008 · Coastal Carolina University

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 273-7832
Emails:
Business:
bently.doonan@medicine.ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100278
 GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
PO Box 100278
 GAINESVILLE FL 32610