Josep Tabernero

Josep Tabernero, MD, PhD is Director of the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) and Head of the Medical Oncology Department at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona. One of the most prominent GI oncologists in Europe and globally, he has made seminal contributions to the development and clinical application of anti-EGFR and HER2-targeted therapies in colorectal cancer, as well as to the broader field of molecular-targeted cancer therapeutics. Dr. Tabernero has been a principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous landmark trials in mCRC, including pivotal studies of cetuximab and panitumumab as anti-EGFR agents, BRAF-targeted combinations, and the emerging role of HER2-directed therapy in HER2-amplified mCRC. He has been central to defining the predictive roles of RAS and BRAF mutations for anti-EGFR therapy benefit, as well as exploring novel anti-HER2 combinations (trastuzumab deruxtecan, tucatinib, lapatinib) in HER2-positive mCRC—an emerging molecular subtype with actionable therapeutic options. Beyond colorectal cancer, Dr. Tabernero has led pivotal trials in gastric, pancreatic, and other GI cancers, making VHIO one of the world's preeminent centers for early-phase oncology trials. He has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed publications, serves on the boards of ESMO, ASCO, and numerous international organizations, and is one of the most cited oncologists in Europe.