Dr. Jimenez is a Tenured Professor of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is the principal investigator of six clinical trials for patients with metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. His research led to the identification of high-specific activity MIBG as an effective medication for metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas; this medication became the first FDA-approved medication in the United States for this indication. Dr. Jimenez has performed extensive clinical research in the field of endocrine cancer with a particular interest in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Dr. Jimenez was one of the first clinicians to describe the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients affected with sporadic and hereditary (Von Hippel-Lindau and Paraganglioma syndrome type 4) metastatic pheochromocytomas and sympathetic paragangliomas. His observations led to the development of clinical trials with tyrosine kinase inhibitors including the phase 2 clinical trial with Cabozantinib (NATALIE Trial) which reported that Cabozantinib is an effective treatment for the disease. This work was published in the Lancet Oncology in 2024 and was recognized with the award “the Manuscript of the Year” by the Division of Internal Medicine. Dr. Jimenez is the leading worldwide principal investigator of the phase 2 clinical trial with Belzutifan for patients with metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Belzutifan was approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with metastatic and progressive pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas on May 14, 2024. This is the second FDA approved therapy for patients with these tumors and the first oral FDA-approved medication. Dr. Jimenez also characterized inherent complications related to excessive hormonal secretion and tumor burden distinctive of this disease. His seminal accomplishments include assessing the value of antiresortive agents and chemotherapy against bone metastases; demonstrating that systemic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dacarbazine is associated with improved overall survival; describing the clinical predictors of aggressiveness and overall survival of these tumors, the value of surgery in patients with metastatic disease, and the managing of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complications.
Dr. Jimenez has published 150 manuscripts in high-impact journals such as the Lancet Oncology, Nature Reviews in Endocrinology, Annals of Surgery, Clinical Nuclear Medicine, and the Journal of Nuclear Medicine and chapters for prestigious books, including Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. He was a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Dr. Jimenez presented at the Schimke Memorial Lecture Grand Rounds at the University of Kansas and has been invited to give lectures for Grand Rounds at several other institutions in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, South America, and Africa. Dr. Jimenez has lectured in many national and international scientific meetings. He was the co-chair of the International Society for Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Research PRESSOR. He was recognized by the PheoPara Alliance because of his contributions to the field with the 2015 Science Award. Dr. Jimenez was the Chair of the Diversity and Membership Committee of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society NANETS. His very focused and successful career has positioned him as an example to be followed by the new generations of endocrinologists. Emblematic of this success, the Endocrine Society invited him, four years in succession, to give the honorary lecture titled “How I got here? A personal journey.”