Dr. Khleif is the Director of the Georgia Cancer Center, the State cancer center of Georgia at Augusta University.  He is a Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Cancer Scientist and Clinician, and a professor of Medicine, Biochemistry, Cancer Biology and Graduate Studies.  He also serves as the Director of the Immuno-Oncology and Immunetherapeutics Program. Dr. Khleif previously served as Chief of the Cancer Vaccine Section at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and Professor of Medicine at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.  He also served as a Special Assistant to the FDA Commissioner from 2006-2009, where he led the FDA Critical Path for Oncology designed to restructure the oncology drug development process.  

Dr. Khleif's research group focuses on the development of novel immune therapies and cancer vaccines, and rational designs for combination immune therapy, based on understanding the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between cancer and the immune system (including cancer-induced immune suppression).  His team designed and conducted some of the first cancer vaccine clinical trials, and they are currently developing novel combination approaches to enhance anti-tumor effects.  During his tenure at NCI, Dr. Khleif was also detailed to serve for 4 years as the Director General and CEO of the King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, expanding and strengthening the clinical operations and building that institution into a National Comprehensive Cancer Center of Excellence.  Dr. Khleif serves on the board of the Society of Immune Therapy of Cancer (SITC), and he is a member of the National Cancer Policy Forum of the National Academy of Medicine where he leads the Immunotherapy Task Force.  Dr. Khleif is the chair or member of many national committees on immuno-oncology and cancer research.  He is the recipient of many awards including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Gold Star Award, and the Public Health Service (PHS) Commendation Medal.