Singh Named Inaugural Recipient of Siteman Cancer Center Excellence Award

Honor recognizes physician-scientist whose discoveries are redefining the future of cancer care at Siteman and around the world

Nathan Singh, MD, MS, an internationally recognized WashU Medicine medical oncologist at Siteman Cancer Center, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Siteman Cancer Center Excellence Award, the institution’s newest and highest honor recognizing exceptional achievement in scientific discovery, clinical innovation and care and academic leadership. The award has been funded by donors who generously have invested in new research and discovery at Siteman Cancer Center.

Singh is a renowned physician-scientist whose research is advancing next-generation engineered immune cell therapies, including CAR T-cell therapies, to overcome treatment resistance and deliver more durable, life-saving responses for patients with cancer. His laboratory is uncovering the biological mechanisms that limit the effectiveness of cellular therapies while developing innovative strategies to expand their curative potential across a broader range of cancers.

Since joining WashU in 2019, Singh has emerged as one of the field’s leading investigators and established a distinguished record of scientific achievement. He was promoted to associate professor of medicine in 2025 and serves as scientific director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Immunotherapy at WashU Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center. His other roles include outreach and education liaison for the Tumor Immunology Program at Siteman.

“Dr. Singh exemplifies the kind of innovative, collaborative and patient-focused leadership that drives our mission forward,” said Daniel C. Link, MD, chief of the Division of Oncology and the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Medicine at WashU Medicine and deputy director of Siteman Cancer Center. “His research has already made a significant impact in the field of cellular immunotherapy, and his continued work holds great promise for improving outcomes for patients.”

Established to recognize individuals whose work fundamentally advances the future of cancer medicine, the Siteman Cancer Center Excellence Award honors transformational contributions that accelerate scientific discovery, elevate patient care and strengthen academic leadership. As the inaugural recipient, Singh sets the standard for a distinction that reflects Siteman’s commitment to advancing the next generation of cancer innovation. The Siteman Excellence Award recognizes the most innovative and transformative advances in all areas of cancer research — helping recruit and retain world-class scientists, invest in the most cutting-edge research infrastructure and lab equipment and enable the fastest response to new opportunities in research and patient care.

“Private philanthropy is what makes possible awards like the Siteman Cancer Center Excellence Award,” says Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, director of Siteman Cancer Center and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor at WashU Medicine.  “Through the generosity of donors who believe in the power of discovery, Siteman can invest in visionary researchers and innovative science that may not yet qualify for traditional funding. Their support fuels breakthroughs that become tomorrow’s life-saving treatments and offer new hope to patients around the world.”

Singh’s selection as the first recipient of the Siteman Cancer Center Excellence Award reflects his growing national and international influence in the field of cancer immunotherapy and his commitment to advancing discoveries that may bring more effective, personalized treatments within reach for patients across a wide range of diseases.

His research has been published in leading journals including Nature Medicine, Nature Communications, Blood, Cancer Discovery and Nature Immunology. His studies have helped define mechanisms of CAR T-cell exhaustion, identify factors that influence T-cell function and advance new approaches to engineering more effective immune-based cancer therapies.

Singh has also secured major competitive funding, including an R37 grant from the National Institutes of Health, a V Foundation research grant and a Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award. In addition, he holds seven patents related to cellular immunotherapy, including innovations in CAR T-cell expansion, combination CAR therapies, lipid nanoparticle delivery for CAR mRNA, MHC-independent T-cell receptors, immunotherapy-resistant cancer detection and treatment, CAR T-cell compositions and synthetic antigen receptor design.

Beyond his research, Singh is an active clinician, educator and mentor. He contributes to the care of patients with hematologic malignancies at Siteman Cancer Center, teaches trainees across multiple programs and serves on national scientific committees.

“Dr. Singh is not only a leader in the lab, but also a valued member of our clinical and academic community,” Link said. “This award recognizes both his exceptional accomplishments to date and the promise of what is still ahead.”