Dr. Sulma Mohammed, DVM, MS, PhD, is a professor of cancer biology at Purdue University and an adjunct professor of microbiology and immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine. She earned her DVM from Khartoum University, her MS from Cornell University, and her PhD from Purdue University. A committed member of the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, Dr. Mohammed also served as director of the Drug Discovery Shared Resource. Her career includes prestigious fellowships with the Walther Cancer Institute, the American Association for Cancer Research/Cancer Research Foundation of America for Prevention Research, and the National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Mohammed’s research focuses on addressing disparities in breast and cervical cancers, particularly among African and minority populations. Her work includes the development of an Afro-centric, immunocompetent canine model resource designed to investigate immune-preventive strategies, such as vaccines, and immunotherapeutic approaches, including CAR-T cell therapy, for breast cancer in African and African American women. Additionally, her laboratory is pioneering a point-of-care test for early cervical cancer screening tailored for low- and middle-income countries. She has also implemented a culturally sensitive strategy utilizing local women volunteers to screen others for breast abnormalities in rural areas of Africa where mammography is not available. Dr. Mohammed’s research is funded by extramural grants from prominent governmental and foundation sources, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Showalter Trust Fund, and various industry partners.
On the global front, Dr. Mohammed has played a leading role in revitalizing the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), where she serves on its council alongside African colleagues. AORTIC is a pan-African cancer organization that facilitates research and training and provides accurate information on cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care. Additionally, Dr. Mohammed served on the African Diaspora Health Initiative (ADHI) Executive Committee for the African Union. Her outstanding leadership and dedication to cancer research have been recognized through numerous awards, including the 2010 Leadership in the Field of Breast Cancer and Health Awareness Award from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology in Sudan, the 2011 “Leading the Way in Breast Cancer Research—You Made a Difference” Award from the African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association, the 2016 African Diaspora Ambassador Award from Harvard Global Health Catalyst, the 2016 Pillar of Support Award from African First Ladies, the 2020 Purdue University Scholarship of Engagement Award, and the 2022 Distinguished Women Scholar Award.