Goals for the AACR
The AACR uniquely unites members across diverse research fields, from basic research to clinical studies, and across all career stages, from students to cancer center directors, as well as advocates and industry partners. This diversity empowers the AACR to promote interdisciplinary collaboration, advocate for strategic funding, and set bold new directions. If elected to the Board of Directors, I will champion initiatives that strengthen interdisciplinary research, foster a collaborative and rigorous research culture, empower early- and mid-career researchers, and facilitate partnerships between basic and clinical researchers to accelerate discoveries, their translation, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Research Interests
Tumor microenvironment; metastasis; intravital microscopy in living mice; how neutrophils, macrophages, and cancer cells influence cancer progression and treatment response; neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs); mechanisms by which neutrophils and macrophages can be reprogrammed or inhibited to enhance cancer therapies and suppress metastatic progression.
Current Affiliations
Associate director, Giovanis Institute for Translational Cell Biology; coleader, Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Program, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center; professor, cell biology and oncology; and Bloomberg distinguished professor of tumor microenvironment, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; adjunct professor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, New York.
Previous Positions
Professor (2021-2023); coleader, Cellular Communication in Cancer Program (2014-2023); associate professor (2014-2020); and assistant professor (2009-2014), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, New York; visiting assistant professor (2009-2010) and assistant research anatomist, Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Education
BS, medicine (1993); MSc, human biology (1996); and PhD, health sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Postdoctoral Training
Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco (2001-2006), San Francisco, California.
Selected AACR Service, Honors, and Awards
Conference cochair, AACR Special Conference: Tumor Body Interactions—Role of Micro- and Macroenvironment in Cancer (2024); keynote speaker, AACR Special Conference: Cancer Metastasis—“The Dark Web of Cancer: How Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Orchestrate Metastasis” (2022); member, AACR Princess Takamatsu Memorial Lectureship Committee (2022-2024); member, Aging and Cancer Task Force (2021-present); member, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research Science of the Patient Grants Scientific Review Committee (2020-2022); chair-elect (2020-2023) and chair (2022-2024), Tumor Microenvironment Working Group Steering Committee; member, Annual Meeting Education Committee (2010-2011, 2014-2015, 2018-2019).
Selected Non-AACR Service, Honors, and Awards
Recipient, Metastasis Research Society Fidler Innovator Award (2024); member, Advisory Board, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Program (2024-present); honoree, Clarivate “Highly Cited Researcher” (2023); honoree, Maryland Moonshot Senior Scholar (2023); inductee, Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine at Northwell Health Chapter of Sigma Xi (2023); member, Brensocatib Research Advisory Board, Insmed Inc (2021-2022); member, Scientific Advisory Board, Vividion, Inc. (2021-2023); advisory editor, Cancer Cell (2020-present); recipient, The Winship Herr Award for Excellence and Creativity in Teaching at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (2019); recipient, The Suffrage Science Award (2018); recipient, The Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research (2017); advisory editor, The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2017-present); recipient, the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Faculty Award for a significant research accomplishment by an assistant or associate professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (2017); recipient, Era of Hope Scholar Award from the Department of Defense, Breast Cancer Research Program (2014); member, Executive Committee, Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (2012-2017); honoree, Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Grant (2010); honoree, Breast Cancer Alliance, Young Investigator Grant (2009).