Dr. Charles Blanke is a Medical Oncologist and Clinical Trials Leader focused on pathway-driven, patient-centered cancer research. Dr. Blanke graduated first in his undergraduate class at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He then received his medical degree from Northwestern University. He completed an internship and his residency in Internal Medicine at Gunderson Medical Foundation in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was Chief Resident. He then completed his fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Indiana University in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he served as Chief Fellow. Dr. Blanke is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Blanke is Chair of SWOG, the National Cancer Institute–affiliated cooperative group that designs and runs large, rigorous cancer clinical trials worldwide; under his leadership since 2013, SWOG has expanded precision medicine lung cancer trials, launched programs to develop young investigators, strengthened VA partnerships, and increased transparency and accountability across the group. Dr. Blanke played a key role in the development of targeted therapies, most notably contributing to work on imatinib (Gleevec) for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)—and chairs the NCI Gastrointestinal Steering Committee’s GIST Task Force. His research contributions also include advancing chemo-biotherapy strategies for advanced colorectal cancer. (Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine)
Before joining OHSU, Dr. Blanke held leadership roles in Canada as vice president of systemic therapy for the British Columbia Cancer Agency and as chief of medical oncology at the University of British Columbia. He is a longtime SWOG member (since 1999) and has chaired multiple disease committees; nationally, he serves on the American Society of Clinical Oncology Board of Directors and is a fellow of ASCO and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Blanke’s honors include multiple teaching and service awards, ASCO recognition, and repeated peer-selected “Top Doctors” listings; he remains active in translational and clinical trial design, investigator mentorship, and policy work relating to end-of-life choices and medical aid in dying. Outside academic leadership, he contributes to international collaborations such as the Life’s Door Hope Hub and maintains an interest in wilderness medicine.
Dr. Blanke received the ROSE Award for outstanding service excellence ten times between 1998 and 2008. He was named Portland Monthly’s Top Doctors in 2005, 20026, and 2007. In 2010, he received the ACOSOG High Accruing Award Z9001, and the ASCO Statesman Award.