Dr Alexander T. Pearson

Alexander T. Pearson MD, PhD is Director of Data Sciences and Director of Head/Neck Cancer for Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago. Dr. Pearson trained as a PhD statistician and physician at the University of Rochester, and then completed both subspecialty training in Hematology/Oncology and postdoctoral research in mathematical systems biology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Pearson’s research lab runs projects using machine learning, mathematical modeling, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and systems biology. Dr. Pearson’s research group described how deep learning methods could infer molecular cancer states directly from tumor digital pathology images, and has produced methods to decrease algorithm bias and increase physician trustworthiness in AI.

Dr. Pearson is a member of multiple international research consortia for AI and mathematical oncology, and his research work is funded by US Departments of Health, Defense, and Energy, as well as the EU and multiple foundations. He serves on the NIH National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council (NADCRC) for NIDCR data science strategy, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) AI in Oncology Task Force, and the American Medical Association AI Specialty Society Collaborative. As a clinician, Dr. Pearson is an expert in head and neck cancer treatment, and he runs multiple clinical trials to improve cancer treatment in this field. He also serves on organizing committees for the ASCO Annual Meeting, the ASCO Breakthrough Meeting, and the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposia.