Nicole Shonka, MD
Interim Chief, UNMC Division of Medical Oncology
Professor, UNMC Division of Medical Oncology
Clinic and Infusion Medical Director, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center
Dr. Nicole Shonka joined the University of Nebraska Medical Center faculty in 2010 and currently serves as Interim Chief and Professor in the UNMC Division of Medical Oncology. A highly respected clinician and researcher, Dr. Shonka is the only fellowship-trained neuro-oncologist in the state of Nebraska, making her a vital resource for patients with complex central nervous system malignancies.
Her clinical and research interests center on brain tumors, with a particular emphasis on advancing therapeutic options for high grade gliomas. To support ongoing translational research efforts, Dr. Shonka spearheaded the development of a web-based registry for CNS tumors — an initiative designed to facilitate data-driven discoveries and improve patient outcomes.
Nationally and internationally recognized for her expertise in neuro-oncology, Dr. Shonka serves on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines Committee for CNS Malignancies, contributing to the development of evidence-based standards of care. From 2015 to 2018, she was an invited member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Cancer Education Committee for the Central Nervous System Tumors Track, where she helped shape educational programming for oncology professionals worldwide.
Dr. Shonka’s research portfolio includes both clinical and translational projects in gliomas, such as investigating biomarkers in glioblastoma and repurposing drugs for high-grade gliomas. Her lab developed a unique mouse model that develops glioblastoma for novel drug testing, underscoring her commitment to bridging laboratory discoveries with clinical applications.
As principal investigator on numerous clinical trials, Dr. Shonka has led investigator-initiated phase I studies, pharmaceutical-sponsored trials and cooperative group investigations. Through her leadership, mentorship and dedication to patient-centered innovation, she continues to elevate neuro-oncology research and care at UNMC and beyond.
Information
- Medical School: UNMC College of Medicine, 2002
- Residency: Internal Medicine, UNMC College of Medicine, 2005
- Fellowship: Hematology/Oncology, UNMC College of Medicine, 2009
- Fellowship: Neuro-Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010
Hospital Appointments: Nebraska Medicine
Clinic locations: Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center - Nebraska Medical Center; Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center - Village Pointe Health Center
Dr. Shonka's research efforts focus primarily on the most common malignant primary brain cancers in adults, high-grade gliomas. Doctors have developed a mouse model that spontaneously develops glioblastoma in its brain, for testing novel combination therapies. She is also collaborating with the College of Public Health on a study looking at any potential clusters of higher than expected incidence of glioma in Nebraska. Partnering with investigators in Neurology and Neuropsychology, they are conducting a clinical study wherein patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma are given escitalopram to determine if this preserves or improves cognitive function. UNMC has joined the neoplastic meningitis registry developed by Penn State Neuroscience Institute to allow doctors to better research this rare but devastating complication of cancer.