12th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research (Speaker Bios)

Dr. Alleyne-Mike is a Board-Certified Clinical Oncologist (Medical/Radiation Oncologist), Diplomate in Palliative Medicine and Associate Lecturer of the University of the West Indies who practices in Trinidad and Tobago.

She is a pioneer as the first female Medical Director at the St. James Medical Complex and Cancer Centre of Trinidad and Tobago, which includes the largest oncology facility on the twin island nation.

In 2023, Dr. Alleyne-Mike was a co-recipient of a Scientific Achievement Award from the American Association of Cancer Research as well as a Director’s Award from the National Institutes for Health.

Dr. Kellie has authored multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals, and has presented her research internationally, at conferences in the North American, European, Asian and African continent.

She is a Local Counterpart to the International Atomic Energy Agency. She is a also a member of several specialty related organisations including the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM).

She believes in the merit of a multi-disciplinary and integrative approach to patient care and maintains a network of local and international counterparts across the spectrum of oncology care ensuring a collaborative approach to optimal patient care.

Oluwatayo (Tayo) Adeoye, MD, is a PGY-3 Internal Medicine resident at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, a Boston University teaching hospital. Since 2021, he has actively pursued global health research and focuses on investigating disparities in cancer clinical trial recruitment globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Adeoye, originally from Nigeria, earned his MD degree from the University of Debrecen in Hungary before pursuing residency in the US. He will begin his Hematology and Oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic (Florida) in July 2024.
In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Adeoye contributes to community outreach efforts at his institution, concentrating on cancer prevention and education initiatives for underserved populations in the Boston area.
Looking forward, Dr. Adeoye aims to cultivate global partnerships to improve cancer care in Nigeria, with a focus on benefiting local communities and advancing research in Hematology and Oncology.

Dr. Betania Allen-Leigh, Ph.D. is a Researcher in Medical Sciences at the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico (INSP), where she has worked for over 30 years. She has a master's and doctorate in anthropology from the UAM-Iztapalapa, a public university in Mexico City. At the INSP, she participates in qualitative and mixed methods studies, population-based surveys and clinical trials on a variety of topics, focusing on vulnerable populations and using a rights-based approach. She is currently the project manager for the Mexican site of two clinical trials on prevention and screening of HPV-related cancers in people living with HIV. She is also the Principal Investigator of the project: "Intellectual development disorders: An innovative model for multidisciplinary intervention". She is the methodological advisor on two projects, one on gender issues in relation to non-transmissible chronic diseases and one on on-line sexual abuse and exploitation among youth.
She works on a variety of public health topics including: adherence to antiretroviral treatment in cisgender and transgender women living with HIV; HPV-related healthcare issues including screening and vaccination in vulnerable adults; services for independent living, employment and social inclusion for people with intellectual disability.
She teaches at the School of Public Health of Mexico (ESPM), currently as the professor of courses on Qualitative Methods in the Public Health Doctorate and the Master’s in Public Health, among other programs at the ESPM and occasionally teaches on-line courses in Qualitative Methods at universities in Latin America.

Rose Ihuoma Anorlu MBChB, MPH, MD, FMCOG, FRCOG has dedicated her career to Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Nigeria. She is currently serving as a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Lagos and as an Honorary Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. She previously held the position of head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at both institutions and now leads the Oncology and Pathological Studies Unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

With a focus on cervical cancer prevention and treatment, Professor Anorlu has extensively published in peer-reviewed journals. She has also played a key role in training and mentoring medical students and resident doctors. Professor Anorlu has conducted workshops on cervical cancer prevention for healthcare professionals across Nigeria. She trained healthcare workers in the Society for Family Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, and Marie Stopes, Nigeria. These three groups have incorporated cervical cancer screening into their family planning services.
Professor Anorlu has trained consultant gynecologists specializing in gynecological cancers. She supervises fellows of the IGCS Global Curriculum Mentorship and Training Program at Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

In addition to her academic and clinical work, Professor Anorlu has held leadership positions in various organizations. She was President of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) from 2021 to 2023. She is a member of the Women’s Cancers Committee of the International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians and has been actively involved in global cancer research initiatives.

Hyo Sook Bae, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., currently serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute (NCI). With a background as a gynecologic oncology surgeon, she previously held the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery at CHA Gangnam Medical Center/CHA University in Korea. She also contributed her expertise to the National Cancer Center Korea.

Since her relocation to the United States in 2018, Hyo Sook's career has expanded beyond clinical practice, focusing on women's health on a global scale. She has actively participated in humanitarian healthcare projects in several countries, most recently as an onco-surgeon with the Cervical Cancer Project of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Malawi.

Her current research interest lies in understanding and finding solutions to the stigma surrounding HPV infection and cervical cancer. This stigma places a significant emotional burden on women and negatively impacts health-seeking behavior and treatment outcomes, making it a crucial area of focus for her.

She earned her Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Korea University and her Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

LeeAnn Bailey is Chief of the Integrated Networks Branch of the NCI’s CRCHD. In this role, she manages, develops, and assesses strategies for enhancing the integration and dissemination of diversity training, women’s health, and sexual and gender minority efforts within and across NCI, as well as within the scientific community and underserved communities through NCI-supported networks. She also identifies and leverages opportunities to address unmet needs in cancer health disparities research.
Prior to joining NCI, she was a healthcare consultant at Deloitte Consulting LLP. She has also been a principal investigator researching tissue engineered products and cellular inflammatory responses at the National Institute of Standards and Technology as well as an adjunct professor at Morgan State University.
Dr. Bailey received her M.B.B.S (M.D. equivalent) from the University of Adelaide Medical School with an emphasis on aboriginal health and pediatric oncology. Dr. Bailey also has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and a M.S. in Biological and Physical Sciences from the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Sutapa Biswas has a career of over 23 years in cancer prevention. She is the Co-founder and Executive Director of CFI and developed the Cancer Communications component through CFI public health programmes. Sutapa specializes in Health Communication and Implementation of cancer public health programmes. Her work is focused primarily on cervical cancer, breast cancer and tobacco-related cancers in India. Her innovations in communication approaches and advocacy skills at both policy and community levels have been the highlights of her career.
Currently she is focused on increasing the uptake of HPV vaccination in India through advocacy, training and strategic collaborations.

Graduated from Universidad Panamericana (UP) in Mexico; with a specialty in Internal Medicine (2012) and Medical Oncology (2015) from the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. I completed a fellowship in Urological Oncology at the University of Colorado. I also hold a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences with an Honorable Mention from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
I initiated and currently lead the Comprehensive Genitourinary Tumors Clinic at the INCMNSZ. Additionally, I teach in the Genitourinary Oncology Diploma Program for medical oncologists. I serve as an adjunct professor for the Internal Medicine and Surgery Module courses at the UP. My research work and clinical trials primarily focus on genitourinary cancers.
I mentor fellows and have supervised theses for graduate students. I have been a mentor at the Women's Networking Center at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a member of ASCO's Global Oncology Task Force, and a mentor of the JCO Global Oncology Editorial Fellowship. I am also an ambassador for the Oncofertility Consortium in Mexico and have been part of the faculty of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) LATAM, the European School of Oncology (ESO) Latin America, the ASCO Annual Meeting, as well as the ASCO Genitourinary Cancer Program.
I have received distinctions such as the International Development and Education Award (IDEA) from ASCO, the Editorial Fellowship Award from the Journal of Clinical Oncology Global Oncology, and the “International Women Who Conquer Cancer” ASCO in 2023.

Emma Brofsky is a Scientific Program Analyst in the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute. She serves as Project Manager for two research networks, the US-Latin American-Caribbean HIV/HPV-Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (ULACNet), focused on collaborations to evaluate approaches for prevention of HPV-related cancers in people living with HIV, and the HIV/Cervical Cancer Prevention ‘CASCADE’ Clinical Trials Network, focused on pragmatic clinical trials to optimize the cervical cancer screening, management, and precancer treatment cascade for women living with HIV. In addition, she supports other projects within the Breast and Gynecological Cancer Research Group and the Division.
Emma received a Bachelor in Biological Sciences from Cornell University and a Master of Science in Public Health in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She has experience working with local, state, and federal public health agencies as well as in international field settings on projects related to emerging infectious disease response, program implementation, and maternal and child health.

Dr. Brittany Bychkovsky is a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. She is a graduate for Harvard Medical School. She completed residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital, and fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Bychkovsky has practiced at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since 2015 and has specialized in breast oncology and cancer genetics. Her clinical practice and research interests span the cancer continuum from prevention to end-of-life care. She has a longstanding interest in global health work and through her academic work, Dr. Bychkovsky has completed four comprehensive reviews of cancer control in Latin America, China, India, and Russia. These projects represent a collaborative effort involving over 75 experts from over 40 countries and were published by Lancet Oncology. Drawing on her expertise in cancer genetics, she co-led an editorial advocating for increased access to germline genetic testing and the need to change policy and add germline testing to the WHO Essential Diagnostics List. Dr. Bychkovsky is thrilled to speak today about her academic interests and to learn from others on their experiences building capacity for cancer genetic testing and care delivery in resource limited settings.

Eduardo Cazap MD, PhD, FASCO is an Argentinean medical oncologist, Founder and first President of the Latin American & Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM), Past- President of the International Union against Cancer (UICC) and Emeritus Professor, Latin-American School of Oncology. Ambassador for the UICC at Summit and World Congress
He published over 200 papers, President of the UICC World Cancer Congress in 2012. He received in 2013 the Distinguished Achievement Award of the Conquer Cancer Foundation (USA) and was bestowed a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO). 2018 Harvard Distinguished Leader Award; Harvard Medical School. Chair of the Global Track- Annual Meeting Education Committee (ASCO), Founding National Cancer Institute of Argentina member.
Editor-in-Chief, Ecancer Medical Science(UK), Co-Editor, Global Health Section, The Oncologist(USA) and Editorial member of around 20 other International peer-reviewed Cancer Journals.
Acting as a promoter of the concept of “ Global Cancer Control “ Dr. Cazap advises, collaborates, or participates with leading cancer international organizations such as OMS, PAHO, UICC, IARC, NCI-US, ASCO,ESMO, AACR, AORTIC,IAEA-PACT, Harvard Global Health Catalyst between others.
Eduardo Cazap has vast in-country and international experience. He is a regular plenary speaker, chair, or moderator at global cancer and health meetings as well as part of organizing major international conferences.

Mishka Kohli Cira is a public health advisor in the Partnerships and Dissemination Branch, Center for Global Health (CGH), at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Mishka leads and coordinates convening activities in support of CGH goals to advance global cancer research and coordinate NCI’s engagement in global cancer control. Mishka leads CGH’s convening of the Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research, represents NCI in the International Cancer Control Partnership, and supports CGH’s work to convene communities of practices in cancer control with counterparts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to facilitate linkage of researchers to implementers and knowledge exchange around policy implementation. Mishka started her career working in international education at the College Consortium for International Studies, and served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer teaching English as a foreign language in the Slovak Republic. She has also lived and worked in Brazil, Vietnam, and Kenya. She received her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of Liverpool, and her Bachelor of Art (BA) degree in Russian Studies from Colgate University.

Sara is the Program Manager for the Global HPV Cancer Prevention Program at the American Cancer Society. In her role she supports behavioral interventions to increase cervical cancer prevention activities in India, Kenya and Colombia along with supporting the Cervical Cancer Action for Elimination (CCAE) Network where she helps coordinate the virtual dialogue series on cervical cancer elimination. Before moving into global health, Sara was the Director of Clinical Interventions for the national HPV VACs (Vaccinate Adolescents against Cancers) initiative at the American Cancer Society where she helped lead expansion of quality improvement interventions from the clinic level to large integrated delivery systems and health plans. Sara earned her Bachelor's in Social Work at Pacific Lutheran University and her Master's of Science in Social Work at the University of Texas in Austin.

Dr. Biniyam Tefera Deressa, an Assistant Professor of Clinical Oncology at Adama Hospital Medical College in Ethiopia, and a current UICC Young Leader (2023-24), is dedicated to advancing cancer control efforts. His academic journey includes prestigious fellowships such as the Fogarty Global Health Equity Scholarship (GHES) in 2022-23 and the Mandela-Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders in 2022.

Recognized for his commitment to global health equity, Dr. Deressa has received awards such as the 2021 African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) Global Health Equity Scholarship (GHES) and the 2020 International Education and Development Award (IDEA) from ASCO.

Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Deressa has made notable contributions to cancer care in Ethiopia. He established two cancer centers in Gondar (2015) and Adama (2018) in Ethiopia, thereby expanding access to quality care. Additionally, Dr. Deressa pioneered the integration of psychosocial support into routine cancer care by establishing the first psychosocial support group in Ethiopia for breast cancer survivors, subsequently extending it to other hospitals. Furthermore, he is actively involved in advocacy and awareness programs for breast and esophageal cancer.

Recognized for his efforts, Dr. Deressa received the Pillar of Support Award from the Forum of African First Ladies/Spouses Against Breast, Cervical, and Prostate Cancer in July 2016. He has served as vice president of the Ethiopian Society of Hematology and Oncology (ESHO) and founded Bridge the Gap Ethiopia, a non-profit organization addressing healthcare disparities.

Ms. Xolisile Dlamini is a trained biostatistician and epidemiologist from the University of Newcastle, Australia. She is currently working for the Ministry of Health since 1991 and worked in the Public health department for 14 years, mainly in preventive, curative and promotive health. Later on, she developed a passion for disease surveillance, epidemiology, research, and health promotion, especially in non-communicable diseases. She has assumed duties at the Epidemiology Unit, as the NCD Epidemiologist for prevention since July 2013. She spearheaded the establishment of National cancer registry after undergoing training on cancer registration and improving quality of cancer data for meaningful use of cancer registry information (Canreg5 software) in Kenya Medical Research Institute. Through her passion for cancers, capabilities, and skills her government found her fit to lead in the establishment of the National Cancer Control Department and now she has influenced the Eswatini Medical Christian University to introduce the Oncology post graduate course. She has received several grants on strengthen the cancer comprehensive services in country which includes – NCCP establishment, Cancer treatment centre (oncology) establishment, scholarships for oncology nursing, grants for hiring specialists (residential oncologist, pathologist, cytologist, patient navigators and social workers) etc. Her wish at the Cancer Control Program is to work in collaboration to reduce the risk factors thus bring down the burden of NCD especially cancers in Eswatini.

Kalina Duncan, DrPH, MPH joined the NCI Center for Global Health in 2013 and currently serves as the Director of the Partnerships and Dissemination (P&D) Branch. In this role, Kalina helps the branch achieve strategic objectives to develop, plan, and deploy rigorous analyses, partnerships, and unique dissemination programs, by facilitating opportunities, providing leadership and vision, forging connections, and supporting P&D experts as they lead programs. Kalina has extensive experience building partnerships with Ministries of Health and cancer research and control organizations in low- and middle-income countries to develop, cost, and implement cancer control plans and strengthen cancer and risk factor surveillance and research.
Kalina joined NCI in 2011 as a Presidential Management Fellow working with the Tobacco Control Research Branch at the US NCI, the Office of International Health and Biodefense in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and the Fogarty International Center at the NIH. Proceeding, Kalina spent six years leading legislative, advocacy, and community engagement programs at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a US civil rights non-profit.
Kalina has a Doctorate of Public Health from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at University of North Carolina, where her dissertation research was focused on strengthening health systems and cervical cancer prevention programs in Zambia. Kalina received her Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Policy and a certificate in Global Health Systems from the Yale School of Public Health.

Dr Bita Esmaeli is a tenured Professor and Fellowship Program Director for Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, where she has had an orbital oncology and oncologic ophthalmic plastic surgery practice since 1998.
Dr Esmaeli’s practice focus is surgical treatment of orbital and lacrimal gland tumors, eyelid cancers, melanoma of eyelid and conjunctiva, and reconstructive surgery in the periocular region including lacrimal and orbital surgery. Her research interests include early detection of metastasis, multi-disciplinary eye sparing approaches, molecular targets for treatment for ocular and orbital cancers, and neoadjuvant treatments for adnexal cancers.
Dr Esmaeli has authored over 330 peer-reviewed manuscripts, over 60 invited articles and book chapters, and has spearheaded numerous clinical trials at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. She served as the co-Chair of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project for uveal melanoma sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. She teaches widely throughout the world and is a frequent guest speaker at national and international meetings.
She has received many prestigious awards and honors including the Merrill Reeh Pathology Award and the Research Award from the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), the American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award, Best Doctors in America, and Top Doctors Award, The American Association of Cancer Research Team Science Award, and Educator Award at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr Esmaeli was the recipient of the Wendel Hughes Award given by the American Society of Oculofacial Plastic Surgery in 2022.

Temidayo Fadelu, MD, MPH is a member of the Center for Global Cancer Medicine (CGCM) at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Fadelu has a clinical and research focus in global breast cancer and implementation science research. In his role with CGCM, Dr. Fadelu engages in implementation research projects in Rwanda and Haiti to address global inequities in breast cancer care. Originally from Nigeria, Dr. Fadelu moved to the U.S. for his undergraduate education at Baylor University. He earned his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and completed his training in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He then moved to Rwanda to serve as clinical and programmatic implementation lead for an oncology program based at the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence in rural northern Rwanda, where he coordinated several major initiatives including the implementation of pathology and palliative care services. He subsequently completed his fellowship training in medical oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, during which he also earned a master’s in public health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Shaylen Foley is a Senior Data and Evaluation Manager at the American Cancer Society, where she focuses on telling the story of ACS’ HPV vaccination efforts. She received her master’s in public health from Yale University. Prior to ACS, she did mixed methods cost analysis of HIV programs in Africa, qualitative research with sex workers in the U.S. and Malaysia, and taught English in Indonesia. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, three-year-old daughter, and dog.

Senior Gynaecologist, Preventive Oncologists, Colposcopist with 30 years of experience have been active in field of Cervical Cancer elimination. Played pivotal role as Master trainer for State Governments of MP and J&K in formulating structured TOT modules for Cervical Cancer Elimination along with imparting trainings to Various strata of Health care delivery system of State Govt. For eg- Gynaecologists,Medical Officers, ANMS & Staff Nurses, Asha Workers. As WHO/IARC/FOGSI Colposcopy /Cytology Course convenor , have trained more than 1500 HCP /Gynaecologist/MO in Colposcopy and Preventive Oncology. Was instrumental in formulating Structured screening program for State Govt of Himachal Pradesh. Has worked and collaborated with many organizations like UNFPA,IPDP,JHEPIEGO,International Rotary of different projects like Cervical Cancer screening project,Malawi East Africa MMR Reduction project, Anemia Reduction projects, IUCD projects ,etc.Chief Medical Advisor to AP Cervical Cancer screening program funded and supported by TTD.Head of Preventive Oncology Department at C R WADIA Thane Municipal Corporation,under smart city project for Screening 5 Lakh women for Cervical and Breast cancer in Thane District. As PhD guide, have guided 8 Fellows in their Thesis projects related to Colposocpy ,Cytology,HPV Screening. Author of "Colposcopy in Practical Gynaecology",MUHS Reference text Book for Colposcopy for UG and PGs of Medical College University.As Chairperson of FOGSI ,Started SSNPP Training programs for fellow Fogsians ,structured training program of 3 hours module in Colposcopy and Cervical Cancer Prevention.Imparted SSNPP training to around 15,000 FOGSIANS. As Medical Director of Sainiwas Healthcare,pioneers in Cancer Prevention ,screened around 1.5 Lakhs women for cervical & Breast Cancer.

Dr. Ginsburg is a medical oncologist and global women’s health researcher with over 20 years of experience in global cancer prevention and control. In 2022 she joined the U.S. National Institutes of Health, as a Senior Advisor for Clinical Research at the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Global Health. She has held previous faculty positions in the Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, at the University of Toronto (2007-2015), and NYU’s NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she was the Director of the High-Risk Cancer Genetics Program and Associate Professor in the Departments of Population Health and Medicine at NYU School of Medicine (2017-2021).

Dr. Ginsburg also served as a medical officer in the Noncommunicable Diseases Unit at the World Health Organization (Geneva), where she provided technical support on cancer control for countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle-East, and Latin America, and contributed to the development of normative guidance on cancer early detection (2015-2016). She has since consulted for WHO, UNFPA, and IAEA's Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy. Prior to joining the NCI, in 2021 she was a Senior Visiting Scientist in the Cancer Surveillance Unit at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the WHO’s specialized cancer agency. She has authored >100 peer-reviewed publications and numerous commentaries in high impact journals, and co-chairs The Lancet Commission on women, power, and cancer. In 2022 she received the Humanitarian Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Satish Gopal, M.D., M.P.H. was appointed Director of the Center for Global Health (CGH) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 2020. In this role, he oversees the development of initiatives and collaborations with other NCI and NIH partners, NCI-designated cancer centers, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations to support cancer research, promote science-based cancer control, and build research capacity in low- and middle-income countries. Before coming to NCI, Dr. Gopal was the Cancer Program Director for the University of North Carolina collaboration with the Malawi Ministry of Health.

As a cancer researcher, it is my goal to create cutting-edge, more potent cancer treatment plans. I have a background in Biology and Microbiology currently pursuing PhD studies in Oncology. My research marks the first identification of genes influencing chemotherapy response in Colombian breast cancer patients, enhancing treatment effectiveness, and offering a cost-effective approach to improve survival and quality of life. My studies align with my desire to become an independent investigator in women’s cancers. I plan to pursue postdoctoral training in genomic data science and its applications in Translational Oncology focusing on Admixed Populations. AACR (Global Scholar-in-Training) and EACR (Researcher Development Grant) awardee.
• Research interests and keywords: Breast cancer, Biomarkers, Genomics, Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Latino Populations
• Resources used: Genetic ancestry, RNA-seq, differential expression, RT-PCR

Mridu is an accomplished public health professional with over 28 years of leadership experience in the social impact sector, with a decade-long focus on healthcare. She is a recognized leader within senior government and donor entities and multilateral agencies, and she is committed to creating collaborative models of public-private partnerships for sustainable change.

As Co-founder and CEO of CAPED, she has successfully promoted awareness and education in the healthcare sector across various stakeholder groups with a focus on promoting uptake of cervical cancer prevention modalities, designed and led strategic implementation programs for cancer screening, early detection and patient navigation as well as undertaken advocacy for policy-level changes towards improved cancer management and care across the nation.

She is a recognised voice at various international platforms including UN Women and WHIS Singapore, promoting gender equality and empowering women in the healthcare sector. Additionally, Mridu has been a key speaker in public health media forums, promoting transparency and accuracy in reporting health issues. As CEO of CAPED, she is Chair of the APAC Women’s Cancer Coalition (WCC) and technical advisor to The Global HPV Consortium working towards prevention of cancers through strategic collaborations and advocacy interventions.

Mridu's leadership, contributions, and expertise demonstrate her unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable change and transparency in the healthcare sector.

Taras Ivanykovych is a fourth-year medical student at Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University. He is an active member of the "Global Medical Knowledge Alliance " (non-profit organization that provides open access to medical knowledge on oncologic care for Englishand non-English-speaking physicians and patients around the world). He also holds the position of Head of the International Relations Department of the Student Scientific Society of the DHLNMU and local officer of the medical education at Ukrainian Medical Students' Association.

Hasan Jamil is a medical doctor from Syria with an emerging focus on global cancer research. He completed his MD in 2021 and subsequently pursued research opportunities in biostatistics and spatial analysis of disease at St. Luke International University.

Jamil's interests evolved to encompass public health, leading him to earn a Master of Public Health degree in 2024. His capstone thesis examined excess mortality across different disease categories during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting his skills in data analysis and population health.

He is also a research fellow at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo, Japan. In this role, he applies his multidisciplinary medical and public health background to advance cancer research with potential global impacts.

Fredrick Elishama Kakembo is a PhD research fellow in the field of bioinformatics at Makerere University under a D43 grant. He holds a Master’s of Science degree in Bioinformatics and a Bachelors degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technology from Makerere University.
Fredrick’s primary research interest lie in deciphering the cellular and molecular dynamics of Kaposi’s Sarcoma using an integrative single-cell genomics approach and the intra-host variations of Kaposi’s Sarcoma associated Herpesvirus among Ugandan patients at the Uganda Cancer Institute. He is currently based at the African Centers of Excellence (ACE) in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences where he doubles as an assistance instructor for Bioconductor and R programming to graduate bioinformatics class, contributing to skills development for the next generation of bioinformatics researchers. He is also the chair of the Cancer Genomics Working Group at ACE-Uganda, a pioneer research group with a focus of advancing the frontiers of cancer research and capacity through development and application of innovative bioinformatics methodologies. The group purposes to contribute valuable insights to the scientific community, improve patient outcomes, and empower the next generation of bioinformaticians and researchers in the field of cancer genomics and genetics.

Benda has over 25 years’ experience in communications, research, marketing and 13 years in health advocacy. She is the founder of KILELE Health, a Kenyan non-profit organization, with programs to promote cancer prevention and control using the power of storytelling to harness lived experiences as tools for advocacy.

Under KILELE Challenge, Benda takes a team of Cancer Survivors and Caregivers to Summit Mt. Kenya in September every year, to highlight cancer survivorship challenges and advocate for post treatment empowerment of cancer survivors across Sub-Sahara Africa.

KILELE Health is also the Secretariat for The African Cervical Health Alliance, a network of Civil Society Organizations that is working closely in 16 countries across Africa to support of the Global WHO Call to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.

Benda is also a trainer, facilitator and public speaker on advocacy for women’s health. She sits on various global, regional and local technical working groups in an advocacy and advisory role, including UICC Cancer Advocates Programme Advisory Group Chair 2023/24, and 2022-2024 Africa Cancer Research and Control ECHO Steering Committee returning Chair.

An alumnus of Strathmore Business School - Institute of Healthcare Management in Kenya, and University of Nairobi Political Science Major, she is a published author in peer reviewed journals.

In recognition of her work, Benda has received many awards including the Cancer Ambassador of the Year 2016, Kenya, the KENCO Advocate of the Year 2020, Dicey Scroggins IGCS Distinguished Advocacy Award 2019 and AACE Selma Morris Memorial Award 2017.

Gloria Kitur is a dynamic and dedicated professional with over 12 years of experience in healthcare program management. Currently serving as a Program Manager leading a blueprint for cancer control program in Western Uganda, Gloria is deeply committed to advancing cancer research, prevention, and treatment efforts in the region.

With a passion for capacity building and sustainable development, Gloria holds the esteemed title of University of Nairobi Capacity Building for Sustainable Development in Program Management Fellow. She is also pursuing her Ph.D. in Health Systems Management, further solidifying her commitment to improving healthcare systems and outcomes.

Gloria brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the table, including expertise in strategic partnerships, project management, community engagement, health system strengthening, scientific writing, capacity building and mentorship; all of which have been instrumental in driving impactful initiatives in the fight against cancer.

As an active member of the Clinical Research Society of Kenya (CRSK) and the Kenya STOP Cervical Cancer Committee, Gloria is at the forefront of advocacy and action in cancer prevention and control. In addition to her professional endeavors, Gloria is a registered Nutritionist and Dietitian. During her free time, she comes most alive when cooking using new recipes, baking, reading poetry, cycling and gardening.

Gloria is thrilled to participate in the 12th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research (ASGCR), where she looks forward to sharing insights, exchanging ideas, and networking with fellow professionals in cancer control given her unwavering commitment to excellence and passion for making a difference.

Dr. Purna Kurkure is currently a Senior Advisor, Clinical Collegium for Oncology Services Narayana Health (NH) Group, Head of the Department of Pediatric Haemato-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant at NH-SRCC Children’s Hospital at Mumbai. She has carved a niche for herself in the field of oncology after 33 years of services at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and retired as Head of Department of Pediatric Oncology in 2015. She has contributed a great deal towards the development of pediatric oncology in the sphere of service, education, and research in India and in the Asian subcontinent, winning many accolades. She was President of the SIOP Asia Continental Branch (2007-2010) and was the President of a successful 2007 SIOP Congress in Mumbai. She was Consultant to the sub-committee on SIOP Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries (currently the SIOP Global Health Network). She is a member of Steering Committee of the Asian Paediatric Haematology Oncology Group (APHOG) since 2012 where she currently serves as the Executive Council Member and Treasurer. She is a Founding Member and Co-convenor of Pediatric Hematology Oncology (PHO) Chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP). She served as Treasurer, Secretary and President of the PHO Chapter (1987-1999). She also served the Central IAP as Executive Board Member (1999-2000) ,Treasurer (2020-2021),Joint Secretary (2022-2023) Currently, She is National Coordinator, HPV Project, IAP along with American Cancer Society &Cancer Foundation India. She is a Joint Managing Trustee and in charge of the Survivorship and Rehabilitation Division of the Indian Cancer Society (ICS).

Dr Achille Manirakiza is currently the 2023 Richard & Susan Kiphart Foundation and Maclean Center fellow, learning clinical cancer genetics and medical ethics under Dr Olopade at the University of Chicago. He is a practicing consultant clinical oncologist in Kigali, Rwanda since 2019. He holds a medical degree from the University of Rwanda and a Master of Medicine in Clinical Oncology from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania. His research work focuses largely on cancer genetics, with a special interest in hereditary and early onset cancer diseases. Dr Achille heads a cancer genetics research clinic aiming to contribute to knowledge in the genetic profile of young breast and prostate cancer patients in Rwanda. Dr Achille has taken part in designing and establishing national and continental cancer treatment guidelines, along with being a featured speaker on multiple international conferences worldwide. Dr Achille has led and currently seat on the board of directors of the Rwanda Cancer Relief, a notable stakeholder in national efforts of cancer awareness and prevention. Dr Achille is also an elected member of the Medicine Section of the Rwanda Academy of Sciences and several other international professional societies.

Caique Mello is a Program Manager with the Cornell Clinical Trials Unit (CCTU) within the Division of Infectious Diseases at Weill Cornell Medicine. He oversees the operational and clinical management of various trials within two international, NCI research networks, the US-Latin American-Caribbean HIV/HPV-Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (ULACNet) and the HIV/Cervical Cancer Prevention ‘CASCADE’ Clinical Trials Network. Caique received his B.S. in Health Science from Boston University and his MPH from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. He has extensive experience working within both the research and international development sectors on projects related to HPV-related cancer prevention, HIV prevention, COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, One Health and antimicrobial resistance, health communication and community engagement, environmental justice, and health equity.

I am originally from California, raised in the Bay Area and then attend UC San Diego for my undergraduate education. I am currently a third year medical student at Creighton University, interested in specializing at pediatrics. Outside of school, I enjoy weight-lifting, running, and trying new restaurants!

Dr. Rahma Mkuu is an assistant professor at the University of Florida, College of Medicine. She has a joint appointment between the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics and the Division of Endocrinology. Her work focuses on disentangling determinants of chronic disease outcomes and implementation science to improve health outcomes in underserved populations globally. Her current research is focused on improving cervical cancer screening outcomes among women living with chronic conditions and social vulnerability. Dr. Mkuu received her BS in Health Education and Community Health and a minor in African Studies from the University of Florida. She earned her Master of Public Health in sociomedical sciences with a certificate in Health Policy and Practice from the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. She earned her PhD in Health Education and certificate in Advanced Research Methods from Texas A&M University. Her dissertation laid the foundation of the landscape of chronic disease risk factors in Kenya using the first nationally representative World Health Organization STEPWISE Survey. Her practical public health experience includes serving as a City Research Scientist/Citywide Hypertension Initiative Coordinator at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in the Division of Prevention and Primary Care. She served as the Health Promotion Policy Fellow at the Arkansas Department of Health where she worked with diverse stakeholders on chronic disease prevention and management initiatives. Dr. Mkuu currently serves as the American Society of Preventive Oncology, Global Cancer Research Special Interest Group Chair.

Jennifer Nkonga is an HPV cancer prevention public health professional who has spent the past eight years leading work for the U.S. National HPV Vaccination Roundtable and the Vaccinate Adolescents Against Cancers (VACs) program at the American Cancer Society. She has served as an advisor to ACS's global team for the past three years facilitating idea exchange between thought leaders. Jennifer was a Peace Corps Fellow at Illinois State University earning her master's degree in Political Science. She earned her undergraduate degree in International Relations at Boston University.

Keneuoe Cecilia Nthontho, originally from Lesotho, is a current PhD student in Medical Sciences, enrolled under the School of Allied Health Professionals, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Botswana, in Southern Africa. Ms Nthontho is pursuing her 3rd year of postgraduate studies, where she focuses her research line on Breast Cancer Pharmacogenetics. She is currently working on a project titled “Exploring the predictive role of CYP2D6 and CYP2C8 gene variation on survival rate of breast cancer patients treated with Tamoxifen and Paclitaxel in Botswana”. This project is run in strict collaborations with the Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership and University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, USA. Her work is supported from an interdisciplinary grant from the University of Botswana. She also works as a Laboratory Technologist, while also taking on duties as a Laboratory Demonstrator for undergraduate students at the University of Botswana. Following up her work, in June 2022, she published a review paper titled “Pharmacogenetics of breast cancer treatments: a sub-Saharan African perspective” in the journal Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine. In June 2023 she achieved to publish “Pharmacogenetics: uncovering the complex relationship between HIV and non-adherence among South African breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen” in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. She also co-authored in an article titled “Bibliometric analysis of cancer research outputs in Botswana between 2009 and 2021” in the Journal of Cancer Policy in January 2023.

Benson Nyambega, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer of Biochemistry at Maseno University in Kenya and the team leader of the Western Kenya Cancer Care and Research Centre (WKCCRC), an affiliated facility of Maseno University whose goal is to conduct cutting edge, demand-driven research in human cancers with a specific focus on cancers attributed to pathogens, nutrients and xenobiotics. With funding from BIO Ventures for Global Health within the framework of the African Consortium for Cancer Clinical Trials (AC3T), he is spearheading a project on Cancer Data Systems Development at the County’s Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu City. The focus on cancer registries is providing a unique platform for generating cancer-related information for various uses including in epidemiological research, evaluation of cancer control measures, monitoring standards of clinical care and sample archiving.

Dr Shama Pandey, MD (Internal Medicine) is currently a fellow in Medical Oncology at the National Academy of Medical Sciences, a government based tertiary hospital in Nepal.
While her focus is on solid malignancies and palliative care, her major research interests include lung, breast, gastrointestinal malignancies and geriatric oncology.

She has been selected to receive the prestigious ASCO International Development and Education Award (IDEA) (2024). She got the wonderful opportunity to participate in the International Collaboration for Research methods Development in Oncology (CReDO) workshop, 2024 in Lonavala, India where her proposal was chosen among the top nine. Last year, she received the Young Investigator Travel Grant to attend the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) Annual meeting 2023 in Houston, USA. She has presented posters in various national and international conferences and is currently involved in a few studies at her center.

Dr. Gerneiva Parkinson was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. She came to the United States to attend college at Howard University, majoring in Biology and Chemistry. She then went on to Yale School of Medicine, where she completed her MD, MHS and Certificate in Global Medicine. In medical school, she became
interested in cancer genetics in diverse populations. During her third and fourth year of medical school, through a Doris Duke Charitable Foundation International Clinical Research Fellowship, she was able to return to Trinidad and Tobago, to conduct a pilot study in breast cancer genetics. She partnered with Color Health, who provided genetic testing and counseling. This would lead to her first grant from the Color Foundation, which resulted in the expansion of her existing work in Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2017, she formed the Caribbean Alliance to Control and Prevent Cancer, which allowed her to help build infrastructure for cancer genetic testing through research, clinical activity and education, within the Trinidad and Tobago oncology population. Dr. Parkinson is currently completing training in Internal Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, where she also completed a Brown University Digital Health Innovation Certificate. She will be starting her Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at Stanford University next academic year.

Dr C S Pramesh is the Director of the Tata Memorial Hospital and the Professor and Head of Thoracic Surgery at the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai. He serves on the UICC Board of Directors. He is the convener for the National Cancer Grid, a large network of 325 cancer centres in India (https://ncgindia.org). The mandate of the National Cancer Grid is to provide uniform standards of cancer care across the country. Pramesh is highly committed to efforts towards reducing inequities in cancer care and making cancer treatment accessible to all geographic regions and strata of society. He is also a visiting professor at the Division of Cancer Studies, King’s College London and the Institute of Cancer Policy, King’s Health Partners, London. He serves on the advisory boards of several national and international research organizations and granting agencies including ASCO, ESMO and the UICC. His research interests include health services research, value-based care, addressing barriers to access, and cancer policy.

Nimra Rahman (she/her) is from Queens, NYC. She has a Bachelors in Human Biology from the City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter College and is pursuing her Masters in Public Health at the CUNY School of Public Health. Nimra is a researcher, having contributed to the fields of mental health and cancer research throughout her career. She is passionate about mental health, well-being, and health equity for individuals and societies, especially within underserved communities.

Alia Rahman is a patient-scientist, engineer turned biomedical products developer, women’s health advocate, keynote speaker, multi-time founder, executive leadership coach, non-profit board member, polyglot, and long-distance road cyclist. Alia is Amplexd’s acting CEO, on a mission to commercialize non-invasive treatments for HPV-induced cervical dysplasia after her own 15-year journey with chronic dysplasia. Alia speaks English, French, Spanish and Urdu.

Priya Ranganathan is Professor of Anaesthesiology at the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai. She has completed the Global Clinical Scholars Research Training program offered by Harvard Medical School. She has a special interest in developing clinical research capacity, and is the convener of the CReDO (International Collaboration for Research methods Development in Oncology) workshop, organized by the TMC and the National Cancer Grid of India (NCG). CReDO is an intensive residential oncology research protocol development workshop that trains oncology researchers to convert their research ideas into full-fledged protocols over the span of one week. She is the convener of the Masters in Clinical Research degree programme at the TMC, and has organized and been faculty in several other short courses in clinical research methodology, biostatistics and critical appraisal.

W. Kimryn Rathmell is the 17th NCI director. She previously led the Vanderbilt University Medical Center as physician-in-chief and chair of the Department of Medicine.
Dr. Rathmell is a recipient of the 2019 Louisa Nelson Award for Women of Achievement, Vision, and Inspiration, the 2019 Eugene P. Schonfeld Award from the Kidney Cancer Association, and the Paragon Award for Research Excellence from the Doris Duke Foundation. She was a leader of The Cancer Genome Atlas’s (TCGA) kidney cancer projects and served as a TCGA analysis working group member across the spectrum of cancers, winning the 2020 American Association for Cancer Research Team Science Award. She has served on the NCI Board of Scientific Advisors, and the Forbeck Foundation Scientific Advisory Board.
Dr. Rathmell’s specialty is the research and treatment of complex and hereditary kidney cancers. She also focuses on underlying drivers of kidney cancers using genetic, molecular, and cell biology to develop interventions to improve patients’ lives. Dr. Rathmell’s research has resulted in more than 250 articles in leading peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Rathmell earned undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa, Ph.D. in biophysics, and M.D. from Stanford University. She completed an internal medicine internship at the University of Chicago and an internal medicine residency, medical oncology fellowship, and postdoctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2022, she completed her Master of Management in Health Care from the Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management.

Peter Ziribagwa Sabakaki is a PhD student at Makerere University, with a masters in bioinformatics and a bachelors in biotechnology. His academic journey has been marked by a commitment to understanding the complex genetic phenomena.

His research focuses on understanding the diversity of TCR beta locus genes among sub-Saharan African populations, and its role in modulating their immunological landscape. Peter is also taking part in works aimed at describing the somatic mutation profile of breast cancer patients of African ethnicity.
This important work is made possible through funding from the NIH's D43 training grant, which aims to train leaders in cancer genomics in East Africa.

Peter's dedication to advancing knowledge in genomics and his focus on addressing critical health issues in African populations make him a valuable asset to the scientific community.

Dr. Vikrant Sahasrabuddhe is Deputy Chief of the Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Research Group and Program Director in the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) overseeing prevention clinical research on cervical cancer and other human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe provides scientific direction and strategic guidance for efforts on optimization of clinic-based and population-based precision prevention strategies for cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers and building the evidence base for their implementation in the United States and globally. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe directs three major programs: the NCI Cervical Cancer ‘Last Mile’ Initiative ‘SHIP’ Trial Network, focused on expanding cervical cancer screening access to under-screened populations via self-collection-based HPV testing approaches, the US-Latin American-Caribbean HIV/HPV-Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (ULACNet), focused on collaborations to evaluate approaches for prevention of HPV-related cancers in people living with HIV, and the HIV/Cervical Cancer Prevention ‘CASCADE’ Clinical Trials Network, focused on pragmatic clinical trials on optimizing the cervical cancer screening, management, and precancer treatment cascade for women with HIV. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe also serves as NCI project scientist on the Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (CP-CTNet) and on the Cancer Moonshot-funded Accelerated Cervical Cancer Control Initiative. He serves on the World Health Organization (WHO)’s guideline development group for cervical cancer screening and treatment recommendations, and advises the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program for the expansion and evaluation of cervical cancer screening and treatment services nested within HIV care settings.

Rocio Seniuk is an Argentinian early-career scientist. She started her PhD at the Laboratory of Cancer and Inflammation, from the Institute of Biological Chemistry, School of Sciences in 2021. She was awarded a PhD scholarship from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) under the supervision of Dr. Geraldine Gueron at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. From her early days as an undergraduate student the intricacies of cancer development captivated her interest, propelling her into the pursuit of a career in molecular cancer research. Her work focuses mainly on the non-canonical role of Heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1), a protein that counteracts pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative insults, in prostate cancer (PCa). Previous studies have demonstrated the non-canonical anti-tumoral effect of HO-1 in PCa and understanding the specifics of this mechanism remains a critical unmet need. Her research is centered on the identification of nuclear interactors of HO-1 and the assessment of their relevance in PCa.

Ms. Shnayder is a Public Health Analyst in the Research & Training Branch of the Center for Global Health. She previously served as an International Health Analyst at the Office of Global Health Affairs of the Department of Health and Human Services, where she was responsible for health-related programs/initiatives with Europe. At the Center, Ms. Shnayder leads the coordination of the NCI-wide technical review of Visa Waiver Applications from international scientists conducting research at the NCI Designated Cancer
Centers. She is also involved in Centers’ research training efforts including coordination of the global participation in the NCI Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention from 2017-2019.

Ms. Shnayder’s interests include breast cancer screening and early diagnosis; integrative oncology including dietary interventions for primary and secondary breast cancer prevention; cancer as a metabolic disease. She received her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and her Masters’ Degree in Health Science from Towson University, Maryland.

Dr. Sudha Sivaram is a Program Director and leads the portfolio of global cancer research training at the Center for Global Health at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In this capacity, she works with colleagues across NCI and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop funding initiatives, and coordinate training and research education programs that seek to build capacity and support career development of early-stage scientists in cancer research in diverse global settings. She led the development of NCI’s first broad global research training initiative, the Global Training for Research and Equity in Cancer (GlobTREC) initiative. Dr. Sivaram is a member of several trans-NCI and NIH committees that focus on advancing science in key biomedical research areas such as implementation research in cancer control and obesity and cancer. Dr. Sivaram has received NIH Director’s Award for her work with the Global Environment and Occupational Health research collaborative, NCI Directors Award for the Cancer Moonshot Scholars Diversity Program and for Collaborative cancer research in India.

Dr. Sivaram’s expertise is in social epidemiology and implementation research. She has led and co-authored peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in the topics of global HIV and cancer control, based on her work in south Asia. She currently serves as Academic Editor for the journal, PLOS Global Public Health. She recently completed a Fullbright-Nehru academic research fellowship in India whose goal was to work with cancer survivors and their care givers to understand patient-reported measures to improve quality of life during and after cancer treatment.

I am a PhD student in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at University of Nebraska Medical Center. My research focuses on studying glycosyltransferase expression patterns in metastasis, with a particular interest in pancreatic cancer. Under the supervision of Dr Moorthy Ponnusamy, I have been investigating how a unique glycosylation pattern governs metastatic organotropism in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using innovative methodologies and approaches. Prior to pursuing PhD, I completed graduate studies in Zoology at University of Madras. I have also gained valuable research experience on cancer cell death through Indian Academy of Sciences internship at Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics. In addition, my second internship at the National Biodiversity Authority of India, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program, I delved into the intricate richness of India's biodiversity. These enriching internships experience provided me with invaluable insights into the cancer and biodiversity. Beyond the lab, I find joy in trekking, cycling and currently lending my time to do explore gardening and other volunteer activities especially with green lab initiative of my university. I am looking forward to contributing to the scientific community and making meaningful connections at the symposium.

Ms. Vazquez is a Research Scientist at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Puerto Rico. She has a master’s degree of Molecular Microbiology in Molecular Diagnosis from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. She has had research experience in microbial analysis and analysis of microbiomes. For some years she served as a laboratory technician at the UPR CAMPO site and is currently the lead coordinator of the study. Since 2022 she is in charge of a diversity supplement under this main study that seeks to identify fungi associated with cervical lesions.

Dr. Edus H. Warren is a physician-scientist who contributed to the development of adoptive T-cell therapy, which harnesses the body’s immune system to treat cancer. He leads the Global Oncology Program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, whose mission is to conduct research that will improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in low- and middle-income countries. The Hutch Global Oncology Program is physically based in Kampala, Uganda at the UCI – Fred Hutch Cancer Centre, on the campus of the Uganda Cancer Institute.

As an oncologist, Dr. Warren specializes in the treatment of patients with blood cancers. He has considerable experience as an investigator on clinical trials of novel agents for the treatment of blood cancers and served as PI on the first clinical trial at the Fred Hutch of adoptive T-cell therapy for patients with relapse of acute leukemia.

The focus of Dr. Warren’s lab research is cancer immunology. His group studies the mechanisms and molecules that mediate tumor regression after immunotherapy. His lab has experience with characterization and manipulation of human T and B lymphocytes, identification of antigens recognized by T and B lymphocytes, and assessment of adoptive cellular therapy in preclinical models. With two Fred Hutch colleagues, Dr. Warren co-developed an innovative next generation DNA sequencing approach that enables comprehensive analysis of T- and B-lymphocyte repertoires. Dr. Warren’s laboratory also has a strong interest in infection-related cancers that affect children and adults in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly pediatric Burkitt lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma.