Susan G. Komen announced on June 23 that Tuya Pal, MD, associate director for Cancer Health Disparities at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) and Ingram Professor of Cancer Research, has been named a Komen Scholar.
Pal, a physician and clinical geneticist, specializes in genomics and health disparities across populations, including a focus on the outcomes of early onset breast cancer in Black women. As a Komen Scholar, she will help guide the Susan G. Komen nonprofit organization in its mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education screening and treatment. Susan G. Komen has a $1.1 billion research program.
“I am truly honored to be named a Komen Scholar and am excited to contribute my expertise,” said Pal. “Their focus on disparities is aligned with the type of research I am passionate about. In fact, they funded my first disparities-focused external peer-reviewed grant over 15 years ago.”
Pal is one of nine new Komen Scholars, including three patient advocates, who will serve on the Komen Advocates in Science Steering Committee. She will provide scientific expertise and guidance for the organization’s programs, help lead its scientific peer review process and serve as both an expert and advocate at Komen forums and other events.
“We are excited to welcome such incredible, knowledgeable individuals to the Komen Scholars,” said Victoria Wolodzko, Senior Vice President of Mission at Susan G. Komen. “Whether they bring experience from the laboratories, the clinic, or as patients themselves, these individuals are assets to our organization and to the work we are doing to accelerate discovery of new advances in patient care.”
The other incoming Komen Scholars include Tomika Bryant, Lisa Coussens, PhD, Christina Curtis, PhD, MSc, Sheila McGlown, Leigh Pate, Rulla Tamimi, ScD, MS, Melissa Troester, PhD, and Nikhil Wagle, MD.
Komen’s Chief Scientific Advisor is Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, director of VICC and Executive Vice President for Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“These new Komen Scholars have all made transformative and lasting contributions to the breast cancer field and communities they serve,” said Pietenpol, Benjamin F. Byrd Jr. Professor of Oncology and holder of the Brock Family Directorship in Career Development. “Komen is fortunate to have their expert guidance to advance our mission and proud to support their ongoing pursuits, which are focused at reducing death and suffering from breast cancer.”
