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David Michael Ashley

Rory David Deutsch Distinguished Professor of Neuro-Oncology
Neurosurgery
DUMC 2600, Durham, NC 27710
203 Research Dr MSRB1, Box 2600, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


My career in cancer research dates more than two decades. I am credentialed in both pediatric and adult neuro-oncology practice and this has been the focus of my efforts in translational research and leadership. As evident from my publication and grant support record, my primary academic focus has been on neurologic tumors, the development of innovative therapies and approaches to care. These efforts have included basic and translational laboratory research. My experience includes moving laboratory findings in brain tumor immunology and epigenetics into early phase clinical trials. I have expertise in immuno-oncology, having developed and clinically tested dendritic cell vaccines and other immuno-therapeutics. My achievements in research have led to change in practice in the care of children and adults with brain tumors, including the introduction of new standards of practice for the delivery of systemic therapy. I am highly regarded for this work, as evidenced by numerous invitations to plenary sessions and symposia of international standing. I have been the principal investigator of a number of important national and international studies, both clinical and pre-clinical. I am recognized as a senior figure and opinion leader in neuro-oncology nationally and internationally. I have held several significant leadership roles, including Director of two major cancer centers, I served as the Chair of Medicine at Deakin University, the Program Director of Cancer Services at University Hospital Barwon Health, and Executive Director of the Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre (Australia). I began my current position as Director of The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Head, Preuss Laboratory, in March 2018. In this role, I am responsible for the clinical care, research, and educational program related to Brain Tumor Center. I am also a senior investigational neuro-oncologist within the adult brain tumor program at Duke.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Rory David Deutsch Distinguished Professor of Neuro-Oncology · 2019 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery
Professor of Neurosurgery · 2017 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery
Director of The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center · 2018 - Present Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, Neurosurgery
Professor of Medicine · 2017 - Present Medicine, Medical Oncology, Medicine
Professor in Pathology · 2018 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Professor in Pediatrics · 2020 - Present Pediatrics, Hematology-Oncology, Pediatrics
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2017 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published April 12, 2023
Can Scientists Learn to Prevent Brain Tumors?
Published January 13, 2021
Recurrent Gliobastoma Brain Tumors with Few Mutations Respond Best to Immunotherapy

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Recent Publications


Deciphering the longitudinal trajectories of glioblastoma ecosystems by integrative single-cell genomics.

Conference Nat Genet · May 9, 2025 The evolution of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype glioblastoma (GBM) after standard-of-care therapy remains poorly understood. Here we analyzed matched primary and recurrent GBMs from 59 patients using single-nucleus RNA sequencing and bulk DNA sequ ... Full text Link to item Cite

Disruption of Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase enhances radiation therapy efficacy in spatially-directed diffuse midline glioma models.

Journal Article J Clin Invest · April 17, 2025 Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are lethal brain tumors characterized by p53-inactivating mutations and oncohistone H3.3K27M mutations that rewire the cellular response to genotoxic stress. We used RCAS/tv-a retroviruses and Cre recombinase to inactivate p5 ... Full text Link to item Cite

Neoadjuvant triplet immune checkpoint blockade in newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Journal Article Nat Med · February 27, 2025 Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary adult brain tumor that rapidly recurs after standard-of-care treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. While immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies have transformed outcomes in many tumor types ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Innate Antiviral Signals for Cancer Immunotherapy

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke · 2018 - 2028

Resolving Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Recombinant Poliovirus Immunotherapy

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2023 - 2028

The Role of SMARCAL1 Depletion on Increased Immunogenicity in ALT+ Gliomas

FellowshipCo-Sponsor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Melbourne (Australia) · 1994 Ph.D.
Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Australia) · 1993 F.R.A.C.P.
Monash University (Australia) · 1986 M.B.B.S.