Leena Gandhi

Leena Gandhi, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Medicine and Director of Thoracic Medical Oncology at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, recognized internationally for her leadership of the KEYNOTE-189 trial, which transformed first-line therapy for metastatic non-squamous NSCLC without driver mutations. Her work establishing pembrolizumab plus platinum-pemetrexed as a superior standard over chemotherapy alone reshaped treatment guidelines worldwide and was among the most impactful lung cancer trials of its era. Her research encompasses both clinical trial leadership and translational investigation of immunotherapy biomarkers and resistance mechanisms. Prior to her current role, Gandhi was a faculty member at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute where she built expertise in early-phase drug development and the biology of lung cancer. She has led studies evaluating novel combinations of checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy, anti-angiogenic agents, and targeted therapies, seeking to extend the benefit of immunotherapy to a broader patient population. Her translational work investigates tumor and blood-based biomarkers—including PD-L1, TMB, and genomic signatures—to understand why patients respond or fail to respond to immunotherapy-based regimens. Gandhi is actively engaged in mentorship, academic leadership, and guideline development through ASCO, NCCN, and IASLC. She is a frequent presenter at international conferences and a highly cited author whose contributions to first-line NSCLC management continue to inform clinical practice across global treatment settings. Her career reflects a commitment to rigorous trial design paired with the biological insight needed to optimize immunotherapy for each patient.