Goals for AACR
AACR plays a pivotal role in bringing researchers from around the world and across disciplines together to accelerate our understanding of cancer and transform that knowledge into cures. The Board of Directors plays an integral role in this mission by shaping priorities in emerging research, championing mentorship of the next generation, and advocating for sustained support. As a Board member, I would continue to advocate for these principles by focusing on highlighting cutting-edge scientific advances, strong support for young investigators, and strengthening advocacy. By fostering innovation, mentorship, and collaboration, AACR has and will continue to empower cancer biologists worldwide and move us closer to our shared vision of a world without cancer.
Research Interests
Mechanisms by which: age-related stromal changes impact metastatic tumor progression; tumor microenvironment modulates immune responses; stromal senescence drives tumor progression; the stromal compartment dictates tumor cell dormancy; and senescence drives therapy-induced toxicities.
Current Affiliations
Gerty T. Cori Professor and vice chair, cell biology and physiology, department of cell biology and physiology; professor of medicine, department of internal medicine, division of molecular oncology, Washington University School of Medicine; codirector, molecular and cellular biology program; associate director for basic science, The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Previous Positions
Associate professor (2011-2016) and assistant professor (2003-2011), cell biology and physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Education
PhD, microbiology and immunology, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California (1996); BS, microbiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (1990).
Postdoctoral Training
Postdoctoral fellow, The Whitehead Institute/Michigan Institute of Technology (MIT) (1998-2003), Cambridge, Massachusetts; postdoctoral fellow (1996-1998), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California.
Selected AACR Service, Honors, and Awards
Chair (2025) and member (2024), Annual Meeting Program Subcommittee: TME; organizer, Grantee Summit (2024-2025); member, Annual Meeting Scientific Program Subcommittee (2024); member, Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee (2023-2025); member, Publications Committee (2023-2025); elected member, Nominating Committee (2022-2024); member, Educational Planning Committee (2023); chair, Laboratory Research Awards Selection (2022); member, Premature Cellular Aging, Stress, and Cancer Task Force (2022); chair, Plenary Session: “Cancer Biology and the Changing Therapeutic Landscape” (2021); cochair and speaker, The Evolving Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression: “Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities” (2021); member, Publications Committee (2020-2023); vice chair (2019-2020) and member (2011-2013), Annual Meeting Program Committee; cochair, Annual Meeting Education Committee (2019-2020); chair, Major Symposium, “Estrogen Receptor in Cancer Progression and Therapies” (2017); chair, Tumor Microenvironment Working Group (2017-2019); chair, Tumor Microenvironment Section, Tumor Biology Subcommittee, Annual Meeting Program Committee (2017); member, Molecular Biology Section, Annual Meeting Program Committee (2010); recipient, AACR-Anna D. Baker Fellowship in Basic Research (2001-2002).
Selected Honors, Awards, and Non-AACR Service
Speaker, NCI Oncogenic Senescence Workshop (2024); keynote speaker, 3rd Cornell Intercampus Cancer Research Symposium (2022); invited speaker, Sixth International Cell Senescence Association Conference (2021); invited speaker, Third Crick International Cancer Conference (2021); invited speaker, Second Virtual Alliance Mini-Symposium on Cancer and Aging: An Intimate and Dangerous Relationship, Netherlands (2021); recipient, Gerty T. Cori Endowed Professorship (2020); co-organizer, NCI Workshop: “Heterogeneity in the Tumor Microenvironment” (2019); recipient, Vincent J. Cristofalo Memorial Lecture, Wistar Institute (2018); organizer, keystone, cancer pathophysiology: “Integrating the Host and Tumor Environments” (2016); member, editorial board, Breast Cancer Research (2015-present); associate editor, Journal of Biological Chemistry (2013-2018); reviewer, Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (2007); recipient, Sidney Kimmel Research Scholar (2004); recipient, Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr,. Foundation Scholar (2004); member, the RNAi Consortium (2003-2007).