Komen’s Mission Advisors Scientific Advisory Board Komen’s Mission Advisors are rock stars—the best and brightest breast cancer researchers, clinicians, advocates and other experts who help guide and implement our mission programs. Thanks to their efforts, we’re driving discovery, affecting change and accelerating progress in the fight against breast cancer. The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) provides strategic guidance and direction for our research and scientific programs, and plays a key role in guiding and prioritizing Komen’s global research investment. The SAB is led by the chief scientific advisors and serves as the executive committee of the Komen Scholars. The Komen Scholars are an international group—representing institutions across the globe including Belgium, Canada, Israel, Italy, Switzerland, and the US—and span a wide range of expertise, including clinical research, laboratory research, pathology, prevention, radiation oncology, surgery, and other research disciplines and specialties. They contribute in many ways to Komen’s mission programs and other activities and events, with primary responsibility for leading and participating as reviewers in Komen's scientific peer review process. The Komen Scholars also serve as ambassadors and experts in our communities and across the Affiliate Network. Several of the Komen Scholars are Advocates in Science who ensure that the unique perspectives of those affected by breast cancer are fully integrated into decisions at every step of the research process.
GEORGE SLEDGE, JR., M.D. Chief Scientific Advisor Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
ERIC WINER, M.D. Chief Scientific Advisor Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
Clinical and translational research; novel therapies for breast cancer; growth factors; anti-angiogenic therapy; triple negative breast cancer; metastasis.
Clinical and translational research; new breast cancer therapies; improving quality of life; HER2 positive breast cancer; breast cancer disparities.
REGION: Southwest
REGION: Northeast
CARLOS ARTEAGA, M.D. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN
POWEL BROWN, M.D., PH.D. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
MYLES BROWN, M.D. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
Laboratory, clinical and translational research; cell growth, invasion; novel therapies; breast cancer metastasis.
Laboratory, clinical and translational research; new therapies for estrogen receptor negative breast cancer.
Translational research; estrogen & androgens in breast cancers; therapy resistance in ER positive breast cancer.
REGION: Southeast
REGION: South Central
REGION: Northeast
KAREN GELMON, M.D., F.R.C.P.C. British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada Clinical and translational research; development of improved treatment options; tumor response to therapy.
CHERYL JERNIGAN, C.P.A, F.A.C.H.E. Advocate in Science Komen Greater Kansas City Affiliate, Kansas City, MO
Patient Advocate; clinical trials; clinical data research; prevention.
AMELIE RAMIREZ, DR. P.H. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX Population research; cancer health disparities; patient navigation; breast cancer in the Latino and minorities.
REGION: International
REGION: North Central
REGION: South Central
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Komen’s Mission Advisors Komen Scholars
BENJAMIN ANDERSON, M.D. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
ALAN ASHWORTH PH.D., F.R.S. UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA
SUNIL BADVE, M.D., F.R.C.PATH. Indiana University Melvin Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
Clinical research; surgery; global health systems; resource allocation for breast cancer management in low- and middle-income countries.
Translational and laboratory research; breast cancer genetics; pharmacogenomics and novel therapies.
Translational research; pathology; breast cancer prognosis; prediction of recurrence and metastasis in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
REGION: Northwest
REGION: Southwest
REGION: East Central
KIMBERLY BLACKWELL, M.D. Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
GERARD BLOBE, M.D., PH.D. Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
MELISSA BONDY, PH.D., M.S. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Clinical translational research; breast cancer in younger women; endocrine therapy; novel HER2 therapies; breast cancer vaccines; novel therapeutics.
Laboratory and translational research; metastasis; genes that control cancer cell processes; targeted therapies .
Population science; health disparities; risk factors for breast cancer and brain tumors; prediction of outcomes and recurrence in early stage breast cancer.
REGION: Southeast
REGION: Southeast
REGION: South Central
JOAN BRUGGE, PH.D. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
LISA CAREY, M.D. UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC
E. CLAIRE DEES, M.D., SC.M. UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC
Laboratory research; cellular processes and pathways that control breast tumor initiation and progression; therapy resistance.
Clinical-translational research; triple negative breast cancer; breast cancer subtypes; new therapies; prediction of tumor response to therapy.
Clinical research; clinical trials; metastatic breast cancer; novel therapies; identification of genetic markers to predict therapy response.
REGION: Northeast
REGION: Southeast
REGION: Southeast
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Komen’s Mission Advisors Komen Scholars
ANGELO DI LEO, M.D., PH.D. Hospital of Prato, Instituto Toscano Tumori, Prato, Italy
MARY L. “NORA” DISIS, M.D. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
SUSAN DOMCHEK, M.D. Abramson Cancer Center – The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Clinical trials; novel therapies; molecular markers for predicting response to therapy.
Translational research; immunology; vaccine development for treatment and prevention of breast cancer.
Clinical research; genetic risk; management of hereditary breast cancer; breast cancer prevention and screening; immunotherapy.
REGION: International
REGION: Northwest
REGION: Northeast
KAREN DURHAM Advocate in Science Komen Tyler Affiliate, Tyler, TX
MATTHEW ELLIS, M.B., PH.D., B. CHIR. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
CAROL FABIAN, M.D. The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Westwood, KS
Research advocate; clinical trials; metastatic breast cancer.
Clinical-translational research; new therapies; identification of genes that affect response and resistance to endocrine therapy.
Clinical research; identification of biomarkers for prediction and prevention of breast cancer; breast cancer prevention.
REGION: South Central
REGION: South Central
REGION: North Central
SANDRA FINESTONE, PSY.D. Advocate in Science Inland Empire and Orange County Affiliates, Costa Mesa, CA
WILLIAM FOULKES, M.B.BS., PH.D. McGill University, Montreal, Canada
PATRICIA GANZ, M.D. University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Psychosocial support for breast cancer patients and co-survivors; international advocacy for breast cancer support.
Clinical genetics; hereditary breast cancer; genetic risk; identification of new gene mutations that increase breast and ovarian cancer risk.
Clinical research; health policy & management; chemoprevention; quality of life; understanding and preventing late effects of cancer treatment.
REGION: Southwest
REGION: International
REGION: Southwest
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Komen’s Mission Advisors Komen Scholars
JUDY GARBER, M.D., M.P.H. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
SHARON GIORDANO, M.D., M.P.H. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
JULIE GRALOW, M.D. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
Clinical and translational research; breast cancer risk assessment and communication; breast cancer genetics and pharmacogenetics.
Breast cancer outcomes research; late effects of treatment; male breast cancer.
Clinical research; breast cancer prevention and treatment; international healthcare; biology and treatment of breast cancer bone metastases.
REGION: Northeast
REGION: South Central
REGION: Northwest
JOE GRAY, PH.D. Knight Cancer Institute – Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
THERESA GUISE, M.D. Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
SUSAN HANKINSON, M.P.H, SC.D. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, MA
Translational research; genetics and how mutations cause abnormalities leading to cancer; tumor environment; breast cancer management.
Clinical and laboratory research; metastasis; musculoskeletal impacts of metastasis; radiation treatment; novel therapies to treat metastasis.
Clinical and population research; biomarkers to identify environmental exposures and determining risk of breast cancer.
REGION: Northwest
REGION: East Central
REGION: Northeast
DANIEL HAYES, M.D. The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI
MIEN-CHIE HUNG, PH.D. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
NOLA HYLTON, PH.D. University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Clinical-translational research; drug d e v e l o p m e n t ; i d e n t i fi c a t i o n o f biomarkers and tests for prognosis; prediction of response to therapies.
Laboratory research; cancer genetics; cancer cell growth; gene therapy.
Translational research; optimization of imaging technology for breast cancer management; using imaging to measure response to treatment.
REGION: East Central
REGION: South Central
REGION: Southwest
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Komen’s Mission Advisors Komen Scholars
NANCY HYNES, PH.D. Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
JUDY JOHNSON, M.B.A. Advocate in Science Komen St. Louis Affiliate, St. Louis, MO
PEGGY JOHNSON Advocate in Science Komen Kansas Affiliate, Wichita, KS
Laboratory research; breast cancer growth and metastasis; HER2-driven breast cancer.
Patient advocate; researcher outreach to educate on the role of the patient advocate in research grants.
Patient advocate; policy advocate for research funding; health education and access to quality health care.
REGION: International
REGION: North Central
REGION: North Central
V. CRAIG JORDAN, OBE, PH.D., D.SC., F.MED.SCI. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
BELLA KAUFMAN, M.D. Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
MARY-CLAIRE KING, PH.D. University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
Translational research; drugs that target the estrogen receptor; breast cancer treatment and prevention.
Clinical-translational research; response to treatment in triple negative breast cancer; advocacy for vulnerable patient groups and underserved populations.
Laboratory research; translational research; inherited breast cancer; breast cancer genetics.
REGION: South Central
REGION: International
REGION: Northwest
IAN KROP, M.D., PH.D. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
ADRIAN LEE, PH.D. University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
DAVID LIVINGSTON, M.D. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
Clinical-translational research; understanding and overcoming resistance to HER2 therapies; new therapies for HER2 breast cancer.
Clinical-translational research; development of novel therapies; new therapy regimens for triple negative breast cancer.
Clinical-translational research; breast cancer genetics; deregulation in cell processes to cause normal cells to become cancerous.
REGION: Northeast
REGION: Northeast
REGION: Northeast
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Komen’s Mission Advisors Komen Scholars
DAVID MANKOFF, M.D., PH.D. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
FUNDA MERIC-BERNSTAM, M.D. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
KATHY MILLER, M.D. Indiana University Melvin Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
Translational research; molecular imaging in breast cancer to direct more effective therapy; response to therapy; therapeutic resistance.
Laboratory, clinical and translational research; breast surgery; breast cancer genetics; predictors of response to therapy.
Clinical research; angiogenesis; metastatic breast cancer; triple negative breast cancer; tumor genetics
REGION: Northeast
REGION: South Central
REGION: East Central
GORDON MILLS, M.D., PH.D. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
HARIKRISHNA NAKSHATRI, B.V.SC., PH.D. Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
OLUFUNMILAYO OLOPADE, M.D. Komen Board of Directors University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Clinical and translational research; genetic abnormalities in signaling families that lead to cancer; personalized medicine; drug resistance.
Translational research; therapy resistance; biomarkers for breast cancer progression; biomarkers for response to anti-estrogen therapy and resistance.
Clinical and translational research; interventions for women at risk; inherited breast cancer; breast cancer disparities; international health.
REGION: South Central
REGION: East Central
REGION: North Central
BERT O’MALLEY, M.D. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
RAMON PARSONS, M.D., PH.D. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
ANN PARTRIDGE, M.D., M.P.H. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
Laboratory and translational research; breast cancer progression and metastasis; the effect of estrogen on cellular processes.
Clinical and translational research; genetics; estrogen receptor positive breast tumor development; triple negative breast cancer therapies.
Clinical and population research; young women; psychosocial and behavioral issues in breast cancer care/treatment; patient-doctor communication.
REGION: South Central
REGION: Northeast
REGION: Northeast
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Komen’s Mission Advisors Komen Scholars
RENA PASICK, DR. P.H. UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA
LORI PIERCE, M.D. University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI
JENNIFER PIETENPOL, PH.D. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN
Population research; disparities; community-based interventions to connect high-risk minorities with genetic counseling and resources.
Clinical research; radiation therapy; therapy for lymph node positive and hereditary breast cancer; increasing tumor sensitivity to radiation therapy.
Translational research; breast cancer genetics; triple negative breast cancer; breast epithelial cell differentiation.
REGION: Southwest
REGION: East Central
REGION: Southeast
JEFFREY ROSEN, PH.D. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
BRYAN SCHNEIDER, M.D. Indiana University Melvin Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
CHRISTOS SOTIRIOU, M.D., PH.D. Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium
Basic research; mammary gland development; tumor-initiating cells; treatment resistance; triple negative breast cancer.
Laboratory, clinical and translational research; estrogen receptor negative breast cancer development, progression and new therapies.
Translational research; genetics of breast cancer; development of genetic fingerprints for prognosis and therapy selection.
REGION: South Central
REGION: East Central
REGION: International
PATRICIA SPEARS Advocate in Science Komen NC Triangle to the Coast Affiliate, Raleigh, NC
NEIL SPECTOR, M.D. Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
VERED STEARNS, M.D. Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center- John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Patient advocate; cancer coordination and control; health equity and disparities.
Clinical and translational research; drug development; HER2-positive breast cancer; therapy resistance.
Clinical and translational research; prevention; therapy and long-term effects of therapy for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
REGION: Southeast
REGION: Southeast
REGION: Northeast
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Komen’s Mission Advisors Komen Scholars
W. FRASER SYMMANS, M.D. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
MELINDA TELLI, M.D. Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
GEOFFREY WAHL, PH.D. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA
Translational research; personalized medicine; patient susceptibility to side effects; response to therapy; estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
Clinical research; clinical trials; triple negative and BRCA1/2 mutationassociated breast cancer.
Laboratory research; genetics of the initiation and progression of breast cancer; therapy resistance; metastasis; triple negative breast cancer.
REGION: South Central
REGION: Southwest
REGION: Southwest
DANNY WELCH, PH.D. University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS
JULIA WHITE, M.D. Stephanie Spelman Comprehensive Breast Center - The Ohio State University Medical School, Columbus, OH
ANTONIO WOLFF, M.D. Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center- John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Laboratory and translational research; metastasis; mitochondrial genetics and mutations that lead to breast cancer.
Clinical and translational research; development of new radiation therapy regimens for breast cancer patients.
Clinical and translational research; identification of markers for breast cancer prognosis and response to therapy; survivorship; quality of care.
REGION: North Central
REGION: East Central
REGION: Northeast
KIMBERLY WRIGHT Advocate In Science Komen Maryland Affiliate, Reistertown, MD
DOUGLAS YEE, M.D. Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN
Patient advocate; translational breast cancer research advocate; research review; breast cancer advocacy.
Clinical and translational research; insulin-like growth factor (IGF) in breast cancer; identification of new therapies to target IGF signaling in breast cancer
REGION: Northeast
REGION: North Central
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