#USA #Nashville #CAR-T therapy #OneOncology #Michael Byrne

OneOncology Appoints Dr. Michael Byrne as Medical Director for Cellular Therapy

In a significant move to enhance cancer treatment accessibility, OneOncology has appointed Dr. Michael Byrne, D.O. as the Medical Director for Cellular Therapy. The announcement was made on July 7, 2025, highlighting the organization's commitment to empowering independent oncology practices. Dr. Byrne, a seasoned malignant hematologist with the Tennessee Oncology group, has played a pivotal role in launching their cellular therapy program. This initiative has granted Tennessee cancer patients access to innovative CAR-T cell therapy, marking a noteworthy achievement as one of the first practices in a community setting to provide this advanced treatment.

Transforming Cancer Care with CAR-T Therapy
CAR-T therapy represents a groundbreaking approach to personalized cancer treatment. By modifying a patient's T-cells to specifically target and annihilate cancer cells, this therapy makes the most of the body’s immune defense system in the fight against cancer. According to Dr. Byrne, who has years of experience and leadership in this sector, the goal now is to democratize access to such therapies, bringing cutting-edge cancer treatments closer to patients' homes.

Davey Daniel, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of OneOncology, expressed his excitement about Dr. Byrne’s appointment, stating, "We are pleased to welcome Dr. Byrne to OneOncology and look forward to his stewardship and support to enable our practice partners to develop cellular therapy programs across the nation." The need for expertise to establish these programs in private practice centers is critically required, especially to ensure effective collaboration with hospitals for patient monitoring and management of any adverse events.

Bridging the Urban-Rural Divide
In the current landscape, access to CAR-T therapies has been disproportionately catered to prominent academic medical centers, leading to an urban-rural divide that affects cancer patients who primarily rely on community practices. Dr. Byrne's vision with OneOncology is to reverse this trend. By collaborating with practice partners, he aims to enable broader access to this pioneering therapy, allowing it to be administered in local treatment centers, thereby reducing the burden of long travel for patients who require such advanced care.

Dr. Byrne notes, "For too long, advanced cellular therapies like CAR-T have been out of reach for many patients simply because of where they live. We have a tremendous opportunity to democratize this care by empowering local oncology practices to deliver these life-changing treatments."

By instituting community treatment centers that work in concert with hospitals for necessary inpatient care, OneOncology envisions that major stages of the CAR-T therapy journey—including initial evaluations, chemotherapy conditioning, infusion, and post-treatment monitoring—can be conducted within these local clinics. This could lead to quicker treatment times for patients, minimizing logistical hassles, and reducing the emotional strain on patients and their families.

A Well-Rounded Background
Before his current role, Dr. Byrne served at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for seven years as an Assistant Professor of Medicine specializing in Hematologic Malignancies and Marrow Transplantation. Additionally, he is the Medical Director for Hematologic Malignancies at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown. His extensive qualifications include completing a Fellowship at the University of Florida and a Blood and Marrow Transplantation Fellowship at the University of California San Francisco, along with a residency at Cleveland Clinic.

About OneOncology
Founded by community oncologists for community oncologists, OneOncology is tirelessly working to enhance cancer care accessibility and support practices in maintaining independence while improving patient outcomes at a lower cost than typical hospital settings. OneOncology’s support includes group purchasing, operational optimization, data analytics, growth strategies, and clinical innovations., serving approximately 1 million patients through over 565 locations nationwide. More information can be found at oneoncology.com or on their LinkedIn page.