Jumi Popoola, PhD, joined the AACR Project GENIE® Coordinating Center in 2023 as the Scientific Program Manager, where she manages existing portfolios and develops new portfolios for clinical research projects.
Popoola has over a decade of expertise and background in drug discovery and biotechnology research. With experience spanning the academic, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors, she is committed to engaging with the broader scientific community to foster collaboration and drive meaningful research and healthcare advancements. As a key player in the tripartite collaboration between Cancer Research UK/The Institute of Cancer Research UK, The Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital in London, and Merck KGaA, Germany, Popoola designed and implemented screening assays that enabled the fast-tracking of drugs into clinical trials for patient benefit. More recently, Popoola served as Head of Molecular Genetics and Biobank Operations at 54gene Inc., a research and development company focused on tackling the disparities in precision medicine in underserved populations. Popoola earned a BSc in medical microbiology from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, a MSc in molecular medicine from the University of Sheffield, U.K., and a PhD in molecular genetics from the University of Sheffield, U.K. Additionally, Popoola holds a certification in executive leadership from Said Business School, University of Oxford, U.K.