I am a physician-scientist who has focused for over three decades on the childhood cancer neuroblastoma with the dual goals of improving patient outcomes and using the disease as a model to understand cancer in general.

Trained in molecular genetics, my laboratory has discovered the vast majority of the currently known neuroblastoma susceptibility genes through both family-based and genome-wide association study approaches. My laboratory has also defined the genomic landscape of neuroblastomas at diagnosis and during clonal evolution. These studies have led to the discovery and validation of biomarkers of patient outcomes and novel therapeutic strategies.

In parallel, my laboratory has focused on improving neuroblastoma patient outcomes by developing the preclinical rationale and then designing innovative clinical trials for a variety of small molecular, targeted radiotherapeutic, and more recently immunotherapeutic strategies. I have been intimately involved in all aspects of pediatric cancer drug development, and my laboratory has developed multiple collaborations with industry to further speed the process.

I am an internationally recognized practicing pediatric oncologist who cares for children with refractory neuroblastoma from around the world, typically in the context of early phase clinical trials. I am at a stage of my career where I think I can make paradigm shifting laboratory advances that are immediately translatable to improving cancer patient outcomes.

I support a diverse and multi-disciplinary research team both within my own lab and through leadership of several multi-institutional projects and have mentored over 100 trainees in various disciplines over the past 25 years. I have continued a highly focused clinical practice exclusive to children with cancer for whom our standard of care has failed them, and continuously seek to improve patient outcomes through a highly integrated basic and clinical research programs.

BS, Wheeling College (Biology), 1983

MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Medicine), 1989

Resident, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania (Pediatrics), 1992

Fellow, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Pediatric Hematology/Oncology), 1995

Postdoctoral Fellow, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Cancer Genetics), 1996

Attending Physician

Giulio D'Angio Chair in Neuroblastoma Research

Professor of Pediatrics

Chair, COG Neuroblastoma Disease Committee, 2006-2010

Member, COG ANBL0621 Study Committee, 2006-2010

Member, NANT 2007-01 Study Committee, 2007-2011

Vice-Chair, COG ADVL0812 Study Committee, 2008-2012

Member, COG ANBL0821 Study Committee, 2008-2012

Member, COG ANBL0823 Study Committee, 2008-2013

Member, AACR Pediatric Oncology Task Force, 2009-present

Member, ASPHO Professional Development Committee, 2010-present

Member, AACR Special Conferences Committee, 2010-2013

Member, AACR Stand up to Cancer Review Committee, 2010-present

Member, COG Scientific Council and Associate Chair, 2011-present

Member, ASCO Leadership Development Program Working Group, 2011-2015

Member, AACR Cancer Progress Report 2012 Writing Committee

Member, AACR Vision 2020 Strategic Planning Committee, 2015-2018

Member, Pediatric Cancer Working Group, NCI Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel, 2016-2018

Chair, NCI Cancer Moonshot Pediatric Immunotherapy Discovery and Development Steering Committee, 2019-present

Member, NCI Board of Scientific Advisors ad hoc Working Group: Childhood Cancer Data Initiative

Member, Foundation of the NIH Working Group: Pediatric Preclinical Testing Public-Private Partnership

Co-leader, Childhood Cancer Data Initiative Open Targets Project

Co-Chair, Pediatric Immunotherapy Network Steering Committee, 2023-

Alpha Omega Alpha, 1988

Pincus Award: Outstanding Clinician of Graduating Medical School Class, 1989

American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Young Investigator Award, 1993

Elected to the Society for Pediatric Research, 2004

Oski Award Recipient, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 2007

Elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation, 2007

Leonard Berwick Memorial Teaching Award, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, for integrating the basic and clinical sciences, 2009

Eagles Fly for Leukemia Lifetime Achievement Award, 2009

William Osler Patient Oriented Research Award, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2010

Elected to the John Morgan Society, University of Pennsylvania, 2012

Award of Excellence, Arms Wide Open Foundation, 2013

St. Ignatius Loyola Distinguished Alumni Award, Wheeling University, 2013

National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award, 2017

National Cancer Institute Eminent Lecture, 2018

American Association for Cancer Research Team Science Award (Pediatric Cancer Dream Team Leader), 2021

Party with a Purpose Scientific Achievement Award, Friend of the AACR Foundation, 2023

Elected to the Association of American Physicians, 2024

Elected as a Fellow to the American Association for Cancer Research Academy, 2024

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Pitcher of Hope Award, 2024

Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House 50th Anniversary Dr. Audrey Evans Award for Medical Excellence (with Dr. Yael Mossé), 2024

Maris Laboratory

CHOP's John M. Maris MD, and Penn Medicine's E. John Wherry named 2024 Fellows of the AACR Academy

CHOP Cancer Researchers Win 2021 AACR Team Science Award

Dr. John Maris: Teaming Up to End Childhood Cancer

Dr. John Maris Presented with the Alex’s Lemonade Stand 2024 Pitcher of Hope Award

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Powers 20 Years of Pediatric Cancer Research at CHOP

Cell and gene therapies against pediatric cancers.

John Maris, MD, Receives Outstanding Investigator Award

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JnM1FjgAAAAJ&hl=en8