Scientific Areas of Expertise: Anogenital Cancers, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Virology
For breakthrough studies involving human papillomavirus (HPV) and subsequent research that has contributed to the development of HPV vaccines, and for her seminal contributions to the understanding of pathogen-associated cancers, specifically HPV-induced cervical cancer.
Dr. Galloway is an internationally acclaimed virologist whose pioneering research has transformed the prevention and understanding of virus associated cancers. She is recognized for her seminal research on the molecular foundations of human papilloma virus (HPV) oncology that contributed to the development of an FDA-approved HPV vaccine. Dr. Galloway was among the first to define the high risk HPV types most likely to progress to cancer and to reveal the molecular mechanisms by which the viral oncoproteins disable p53 and Rb tumor suppressors. Furthermore, Dr. Galloway elegantly showed that a single HPV protein could form a virus-like particle, which established the basis for today’s prophylactic HPV vaccines and established a safe, effective, and globally-deployable cancer prevention tool. Extending her impact on clinical impact, her work on Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), the principal driver of Merkel cell carcinoma, helped create a blood test for antibodies to MCPyV antigens, which enabled clinicians to monitor patients for recurrence and deepened the understanding of oncogenic virus host interactions. Her work identifying the MCPyV ALTO gene defined a whole new clade of polyomaviruses.
Dr. Galloway has also brought her expertise to clinical trials through the Kenya Single-dose HPV-vaccine Efficacy (KEN SHE) study, which is designed to test whether one vaccine dose provides durable protection against high-risk HPV, especially in regions where multi-dose regimens are hardest to deliver. By addressing dose-sparing efficacy, immune durability, and implementation in real-world settings, her work directly informs global vaccination policy, lowers barriers to access, and accelerates progress toward the elimination of HPV-driven cancers. Together, Dr. Galloway’s research has exemplified how the integration of pathogen discovery, mechanistic oncology, and population-scale prevention can advance cancer control and reshape standards of care. Dr. Galloway’s visionary science and commitment to translating discovery into public health impact have saved countless lives and continue to shape the trajectory of cancer prevention and virus related oncology worldwide.
Selected Awards and Honors
2019 Elected Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2019 Women of Influence, Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle, Washington
2019 AWIS Award, Association for Women in Science, Seattle chapter, Seattle, Washington
2018 Elected Member, Washington Life Science Hall of Fame, Seattle, Washington
2017 NCI Outstanding Investigator Award, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
2011 AACR Team Science Award, American Association for Cancer Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2010 Elected Fellow, Academy of Microbiology, Washington, DC
2009 Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, Washington, DC
[Institutional affiliations listed for Fellows reflect those held at the time of their induction into the AACR Academy.]