University of California-San Diego · Biomedical EngineeringMell Lab
Loren K. Mell · La Jolla, California
Research Focus
Loren K. Mell's lab focuses on improving treatment options for head and neck cancer patients, especially those who are medically unfit for standard therapies. The lab conducts clinical trials to develop novel therapeutic strategies for older adults and underserved populations, ensuring these groups are well-represented in research. They seek to improve patient outcomes through innovative risk assessment methods and mentorship of emerging investigators in the field.
head and neck cancerclinical trialsalternative therapiesrisk assessmentolder populationshealth disparitiescomorbiditiescancer researchNCI-sponsored trialsethnic diversity
Research Aims
5AIM 01Improve treatment options for head and neck cancer patients who cannot tolerate standard therapies.
AIM 02Increase representation of underserved populations in clinical trials.
AIM 03Develop novel therapeutic strategies through innovative clinical research.
AIM 04Mentor emerging investigators in cancer research methodologies.
AIM 05Enhance risk assessment methods to identify patients who benefit from intensive treatments.
Skills the Lab Values
clinical trial designpatient recruitmentstatistical modelingdata collection and analysisbioethics in researchmulticenter trial coordinationcollaboration with oncologistsmentor emerging researcherspresentation of clinical datarisk assessment methods
Output against the department
Publications953top 5% of dept.30th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations17ktop 22% of dept.130th of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.