James Godfrey, M.D.

(877) 460-4673
James Godfrey, M.D.
Hematologist
Clinical Expertise
  • Lymphoma
Research Area
  • Cellular and Immunotherapy in Patients with Lymphoma
Academic Appointments
  • Assistant Professor, Division of Lymphoma, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Clinical Teams
Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Lymphoma

James Godfrey, M.D., is passionate about researching the immune system’s response to lymphoma, and then rapidly converting those discoveries into real treatments for real patients. “Despite the clinical success of immunotherapies,” he explained, “our understanding of the factors that determine patient responsiveness to these treatments in lymphoma remains limited.” He has an active research laboratory where he addresses these important questions and is currently running several clinical trials to test the effectiveness of immunotherapies such as CD20xCD3 bispecific antibodies in various forms of the disease.

Dr. Godfrey received his medical degree and completed his residency at The Ohio State University. He continued his training with a fellowship in hematology and oncology at University of Chicago. He’s been the recipient of a long list of research awards and grants, and has published his work in a number of prominent research journals. He’s now eager to continue his research efforts at City of Hope. “By joining the committed and pioneering research team at City of Hope,” he said, “our goal is to now facilitate research discoveries that bridge the gap between cutting-edge basic science breakthroughs and the development of meaningful clinical interventions that can positively impact the health and well-being of our patients.”

Location

Education & Experience

Board Certifications

  • 2020, California State Medical License
  • 2018, Medical Oncology Board Certification
  • 2015, Illinois State Medical License
  • 2015, American Board of Internal Medicine

Degrees

  • 2008–2012, M.D., The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
  • 2004–2008, B.S., Biological Sciences. Chapman University, Orange, CA

Fellowship

  • 2015–2018, Clinical Fellow, Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Residency

  • 2012–2015, Residency, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Professional Experience

  • 2020–present, Assistant Professor, Division of Lymphoma, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
  • 2018–2020, Clinical Instructor, Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Awards & Memberships

Awards

  • 2026, ASH Scholar Award
  • 2025, NCI/CTEP Career Development Award
  • 2023, City of Hope Lymphoma SPORE Career Enhancement Award
  • 2021, NIH K12 Paul Calabresi Career Development Program Scholar
  • 2020, Sigal Fellowship in Immuno-oncology
  • 2018, Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award
  • 2018, ASH Research Training Award for Fellows
  • 2018, Janet Rowley University of Chicago Research Day Abstract Award Winner
  • 2017, ASH Clinical Research Training Institute Participant
  • 2017, ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Merit Award for Oral Abstract
  • 2017, Adaptive Biotechnologies Young Investigator Award
  • 2014, Clara Bloomfield Award for Excellence in Hematology Research, Ohio State University
  • 2012, Magna Cum Laude, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
  • 2008, Magna Cum Laude, Chapman University
  • 2008, American Physiological Society Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research
  • 2007, American Heart Association Undergraduate Research Fellowship Award

Memberships

  • 2018–present, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer
  • 2017–present, American Association for Cancer Research
  • 2015–present, American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • 2015–present, American Society of Hematology

Publications

  • Gao L, Kallam A, Shouse G,…..Godfrey JK. Polatuzumab vedotin in CNS lymphoma: proof-of-concept study for blood-brain barrier penetration. Blood Adv. 2025 Dec 23;9(24):6425-6431.
  • Xiao A, Chen L, Pak S, et al. Real-world infectious complications of CD3/CD20 bispecific antibodies in relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma. 2025 Dec;66(12):2260-2268.
  • Cahill K, Godfrey J, Nabhan C, et al. A multicenter phase 1/2 trial of lenalidomide and dose-adjusted EPOCH-R in MYC-associated DLBCL. Blood Adv. 2025 Nov 11;9(21):5665-5675.
  • Mei M, Palmer J, Lee HJ, et al. Nivolumab plus ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide are a highly effective first salvage regimen in high-risk relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Hemasphere. 2025;9(5):e70126. Published 2025 Apr 30.
  • Tumuluru S, Godfrey JK*, Cooper A, et al. Integrative genomic analysis of DLBCL identifies immune environments associated with bispecific antibody response. Blood. 2025 May 22;145(21):2460-2472.
  • Godfrey J, Querfeld C, Song J. Risk of Second Tumors and T-Cell Lymphoma after CAR T-Cell Therapy. N Engl J Med. 2024 Sep 5;391(9):869-870.
  • Othman T, Baird JH, Pak S, et al. Real-world experience of axicabtagene ciloleucel, a CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy, in the second-line treatment of early relapsed or primary refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Br J Haematol. 2024;205(1):368-372.
  • Godfrey JK, Gao L, Shouse G, et al. Glofitamab stimulates immune cell infiltration of CNS tumors and induces clinical responses in secondary CNS lymphoma. Blood. 2024;144(4):457-461.
  • Chen X, Yu J, Venkataraman G,…..Godfrey J, Kline J. T-cell States, Repertoire, and Function in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Revealed through Single-Cell Analyses. Cancer Immunol Res. 2024 Mar 4;12(3):296-307.
  • Cooper A, Tumuluru S, Kissick K,…..Godfrey J**, Kline J. CD5 Gene Signature Identifies Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas Sensitive to Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition. J Clin Oncol. 2024 Feb 1;42(4):467-480.
  • Ong S, Pak S, Mei M, Godfrey J, et al. Bendamustine is a well-tolerated alternative to fludarabine as lymphodepletion for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Am J Hematol. 2023 Nov;98(11):1751-1761.
  • Godfrey J, Mei M, Chen L, et al. Results from a phase I trial of pembrolizumab plus vorinostat in relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Haematologica. In press.
  • Godfrey J*, Chen X, Sunseri N, et al. TIGIT is a key inhibitory checkpoint receptor in lymphoma. J Immunother Cancer. 2023 Jun;11(6):e006582.
  • Mei M, Chen L, Godfrey J, et al. Pembrolizumab Plus Vorinostat Induces Responses in Patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma Who Are Refractory to Prior PD-1 Blockade. Blood. 2023 Oct 19;142(16):1359-1370.
  • Major A, Yu J, Godfrey J, et al. Efficacy of checkpoint inhibition after CAR-T failure in aggressive B-cell lymphomas: Outcomes from 15 U.S. institutions. Blood Adv. 2023 Aug 22;7(16):4528-4538.
  • Song J, Nwangwu, He, Godfrey J, et al. Low T-cell proportion in the tumor microenvironment is associated with immune escape and poor survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Haematologica. 2023 Aug 1;108(8):2167-2177.
  • Godfrey J, Liu H, Tallarico M, et al. Pembrolizumab for the treatment of relapsed hematologic malignancies following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Blood Advances. 2023 Mar 28;7(6):963-970.
  • Kambhampati S, Mei M, Godfrey J, et al. PD-1 blockade after Avelumab in relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2022 Oct;22(10):e893-e897.
  • MacNabb B, Tumuluru S, Godfrey J, et al. Dendritic cells can prime anti-tumor CD8+ T cell responses through major histocompatibility complex cross-dressing. Immunity. 2022 Jun 14;55(6):982-997.
  • Trujillo J, Godfrey J*, Bishop M, et al. Primary resistance to CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma. Blood. 2021 Jun 17;137(24):3454-3459.
  • Carreau N, Diefenbach C, Godfrey J, et al. Checkpoint Blockade Treatment May Sensitize Hodgkin Lymphoma to Subsequent Therapy. Oncologist. 2020 Oct;25(10):878-885.
  • Carreau N, Diefenbach C, Godfrey J, et al. Checkpoint blockade treatment sensitizes relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma to subsequent therapy. Br J Haematol. 2020 Oct;191(1):44-51
  • Merryman RW, Carreau NA, Godfrey J, et al. Impact of Treatment Beyond Progression with Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Hodgkin Lymphoma. Oncologist. 2020;25(6):e993-e997.
  • Kline J, Godfrey J, and Ansell S. The immune landscape and response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in lymphoma. Blood. 2020 Feb 20;135(8):523-533.

*Co-first author 

** Co-senior author

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings and reviews below are gathered from the Press Ganey Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG CAHPS) survey. CG CAHPS is a standardized survey that is used to measure a patient's experience in the physician office setting. Ratings are an average of all responses to questions about a provider's care, with five stars being the highest.
5.0
Recommend this provider office
5.0
Provider explain in way you understand
5.0
Provider listen carefully to you
5.0
Show respect for what you say
5.0
Spend enough time with you
4.9
Know important info medical history
4.9
Rate provider 0-10
02/22/26
Doctor Godfrey may be the best doctor I've ever had. He is very caring and generally concerned about my well-being. - Verified patient
02/16/26
Dr. Godfrey is literally the implement of God in helping people through the medical process. He is truly a great man and I will always think of him fondly. Enjoyed seeing him under trying circumstances. - Verified patient
01/08/26
They are on top of their specialties. - Verified patient
01/08/26
Very organized and well coordinated practices! It's awesome! - Verified patient
09/28/25
Dr. Godfrey is very knowledgeable professional and listening to his patient. - Verified patient