Foundation Names Kathryn A. O'Donnell, PhD to
Lead Scientific Advisory Board
NEW
YORK, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lung
Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is pleased to announce the
appointment of Kathryn A. O'Donnell,
PhD, as its new Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) chair, effective
July 1, 2024. Dr. O'Donnell succeeds
Katerina Politi, PhD, who has served
as chair of LCRF's SAB since 2019.
Kathryn (Kate) O'Donnell, PhD, is
an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Bihology at
UT Southwestern Medical Center and co-leader of the Development and
Cancer Program in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer
Center. She received her B.S. in genetics from Cornell University and her PhD in human genetics
from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine,
working with Chi Dang on the
functions of the MYC oncogene, one of the most important drivers of
human malignancy. Following graduate school, she joined
Jef Boeke's laboratory at
Johns Hopkins and developed innovative
approaches to identify genes that contribute to cancer and may
represent new therapeutic targets. In 2011, Kate was recruited to
UT Southwestern Medical Center as an Assistant professor in the
Department of Molecular Biology and a Cancer Prevention and
Research Institute of Texas
(CPRIT) Scholar. Since establishing her independent laboratory, Dr.
O'Donnell has made important contributions to our understanding of
cancer initiation and progression. She has discovered new cancer
genes, including oncogenic cell surface proteins that may be
targetable with therapeutic antibodies. Her current work is focused
on understanding the mechanisms that contribute to lung tumor
development, the regulation of immune checkpoint pathways, and
applying insights from these studies towards the development of new
therapies for lung cancer. Dr. O'Donnell has served as a member of
LCRF's SAB since 2022.
"I am thrilled and honored to chair LCRF's Scientific Advisory
Board and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the
Scientific Advisory Board, the Board of Directors, and the amazing
staff and leadership at LCRF to continue funding exceptional lung
cancer research," said O'Donnell.
"We are excited for Dr. O'Donnell to take the reins of the SAB
from Dr. Politi," remarked Aubrey
Rhodes, LCRF's executive director. "Dr. Politi leaves big
shoes to fill. Her leadership has made LCRF's research program what
it is today – funding innovative research with the greatest
potential to address unmet need and improve outcomes for the lung
cancer community. Her efforts were integral in developing several
multi-year, multi-million-dollar research partnerships that have
accelerated the pace of lung cancer research. Under her leadership,
the SAB developed a long-term vision through strategic planning and
its research roadmap, which guides the foundation's research
investments. She has also strived to increase the diversity of the
SAB. We're grateful for her service and are especially thankful
that she will remain on our SAB and Board of Directors, assuring a
smooth transition for Dr. O'Donnell into her new role."
Katerina Politi, PhD, Professor
of Pathology and Internal Medicine at Yale
School of Medicine, has led LCRF's SAB for five years,
overseeing the funding of more than $11
million in lung cancer research grants as well as the
development of LCRF's Research Roadmap and the founding of the
organization's Research Advocates volunteer group. She is a
celebrated researcher herself, and a past beneficiary of LCRF's
early investigator grant awards, which provide her a unique
perspective on both the process and the impact of early funding on
a scientist's career. Dr. Politi continues as a mentor to other
researchers and a partner to LCRF's board and staff.
"Dr. O'Donnell is an excellent scientist and will continue to
build upon LCRF's legacy of supporting lung cancer researchers and
novel, innovative research ideas," says Dr. Politi. "I'm confident
that she will lead the SAB to achieve LCRF's research priorities
and improve outcomes for people with lung cancer."
About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation
(LCRF)
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the
leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative,
high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and
improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF's mission
is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the
prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date,
LCRF has funded 419 research grants, totaling nearly $44 million, the highest amount provided by a
nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research.
For more information, visit lcrf.org.
Contact:
Sheila
Sullivan
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, LCRF
ssullivan@lcrf.org
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SOURCE Lung Cancer Research Foundation