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Dr. Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, MBBS, FACP
Dr. Olopade is
currently a Professor of Medicine
and Human Genetics and the founding
director of the Center for Clinical
Cancer Genetics at the University of
Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
in Chicago, Illinois. As a
physician-scientist, Dr. Olopade
epitomizes the bench-to-bedside
translation of her scientific
discoveries on individual and
population cancer susceptibility
into optimal treatment interventions
for women with breast cancer. Dr.
Olopade graduated with distinction
from the University of Ibadan
College of Medicine, in Nigeria and
completed her residency training in
Internal Medicine at Cook County
Hospital where she also served as
Chief Resident. Trained in clinical
oncology and cancer genetics at the
University of Chicago, her early
research led to the identification
of a tumor suppressor locus on the
short arm of chromosome 9. Her more
recent work has focused on the
molecular genetics of breast cancer
in women of African ancestry. Tumors
in this population demonstrate
distinct biological characteristics,
including Her2 and estrogen receptor
negativity that are associated with
a high level of aggressiveness and
resistance to treatment. Dr. Olopade
was the first to describe recurrent
BRCA1 mutations in extended
African-American families with
breast cancer and also reported the
detection of BRCA1 and BRCA2
mutations in West African
pre-menopausal breast cancer
patients. As an oncologist who seeks
to translate her basic research into
effective clinical treatments, Dr.
Olopade oversees a coordinated
multidisciplinary clinical program
that includes oncologists primary
care physicians, genetic counselors,
sociologists and psychologist and
provides access to genetic services
for local at risk populations.
An international
leader in breast cancer research,
Dr. Olopade has received numerous
honors and awards, including the
ASCO Young Investigator Award, the
James S. McDonnell Foundation
Scholar Award, the Doris Duke
Distinguished Clinical Scientist
Award, the MacArthur Foundation
Genius Award and she was recently
named the Walter L. Palmer
Distinguished Service Professor of
Medicine. As Fellowship Training
Program Director at the University
of Chicago, she serves as a role
model and mentor for the next
generation of physicians who seek to
bridge the gap between basic science
and clinical practice through
integrated bench to bedside.
Passionate about prevention, early
detection and treatment, Dr. Olopade
conducts clinical research both in
the United States and in West
Africa. In bridging continents with
her innovative research and service
models, Dr. Olopadde is increasing
the probability of improved outcomes
for millions of women of African
heritage at risk for cancer in the
United States and abroad.
Dr. Olopade has been
a longstanding citizen of the NIH
community through her past service
as a member of the Board of
Scientific Counselors for the CCR,
NCI and her current service as a
member of the NIH Advisory Board for
Clinical Research. In addition, she
is a member of the translational
Research Working Group of the NCI
and a member of the Consulting Team
for NCI’s Early Detection Research
Network. |
