Overview
Dr. Beasley is an associate professor of surgery in the division of Surgical Oncology at Duke University with a secondary appointment as associate professor in the department of medicine. After playing 3 years in the women’s NBA, she began medical school. She obtained her MD (2008) and Masters of Health Science in clinical research (2010) from Duke University School of Medicine. She then completed general surgical residency at Duke University in 2015, during which time she was awarded a traineeship under a long-standing Surgical Oncology T32 grant. She then completed a fellowship in complex surgical oncology at the Ohio State University in 2017. She returned to Duke in 2017 as a faculty member. In 2019, she became co-director of the Duke Melanoma Program.
Dr. Beasley is a surgeon scientist with active involvement in clinical and translational research. Her main clinical and research interests include immunologic aspects of melanoma including oncolytic viral therapy. She is principal investigator of over 10 therapeutic clinical trials in melanoma including novel intratumoral therapies. Her research focuses on the role of innate immunity in the anti-tumor response. She has authored over 100 publications centered on melanoma. She has received multiple internal and external funding including the Society of Surgical Oncology’s Young Investigator Award, NIH K08 mentored physician scientist award, and Melanoma Research Alliance Grant.. Most recently she was selected to Duke Medical School’s Alpha Omega Alpha and received the American Society for Clinical Investigation Young Physician-Scientist Award.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Longitudinal ctDNA monitoring for post-surgical disease surveillance in patients with stage I-IIIB melanoma.
Journal Article Clin Cancer Res · February 3, 2026 PURPOSE: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as an important biomarker for early recurrence detection and monitoring disease status during treatment in patients with cancer, including melanoma. We evaluate the prognostic value and impact of post-oper ... Full text Link to item CiteSubgroup analyses of the phase 3 FOCUS study of melphalan/hepatic delivery system in patients with unresectable metastatic uveal melanoma.
Journal Article J Cancer Res Clin Oncol · December 29, 2025 PURPOSE: To assess efficacy and safety in subgroups of patients treated with Melphalan/Hepatic Delivery System (melphalan/HDS), a drug/device combination for liver-directed treatment of metastatic UM (mUM) patients. Previously reported FOCUS study results ... Full text Link to item CiteGene Expression Profile-Based Test to Predict Melanoma Sentinel Node Status: The MERLIN_001 Study.
Journal Article JAMA Surg · December 1, 2025 IMPORTANCE: Contemporary guidelines recommend sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for patients with melanoma with predicted risk of SLN metastasis greater than 10% and consideration of SLNB when the risk is 5% to 10%. A gene expression profile (GEP)-based te ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Development and Validation of Prognostic and Predictive AI biomarkers in Melanoma
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Valar Labs, Inc. · 2025 - 2030A Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter, Phase 3 Clinical Study Comparing Vusolimogene Oderparepvec in Combination with Nivolumab Versus Treatment of Physician's Choice in Patients with Advanced Melanoma That Has Progressed on an Anti-PD-1 and an Anti
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Replimune, Inc. · 2024 - 2029Duke Research Training Program in Surgical Oncology
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2024 - 2029View All Grants