Biography of the Director of the OLACPD

Jorge Gomez, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Jorge Gomez is the director of the Office of Latin American Cancer Program Development (OLACPD). Founded in 2008 by Dr. Gomez, OLACPD is a partnership between NCI (National Cancer Institute) and FIC (Fogarty International Center) of NIH (National Institutes of Health) whose goal is to support and advance international collaboration in scientific and clinical cancer research, training, and infrastructure development in Latin America.

Dr. Gomez was born in Empalme Sonora, Mexico, and received his medical degree at the Universidad de Guadalajara School of Medicine. Coming to the United States in 1982, Dr. Gomez completed a master of science in immunology at the University of Texas at El Paso and a doctoral degree in immunology and pharmacology from the University of Arizona. Dr. Gomez continued his training as a postdoctoral fellow at Thomas Jefferson University and joined NIH in 1992 as a postdoctoral trainee at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. In 1994, Dr. Gomez was selected for the Grants Associate Program, a one-year training program for research scientists in science administration. Subsequently, Dr. Gomez joined the Organ Systems Branch (OSB) at NCI where he served as Program Director of a Breast Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence, part of SPOREs, a translational program bridging laboratory research with the treatment of patients in the clinical care setting.

In 1998, Dr. Gomez became chief of OSB where he oversaw the management and administration of SPOREs.  Over a ten year period, Dr. Gomez was responsible for a $130 million grants portfolio, which comprised over 600 research projects, 200 research cores, and 255 clinical research studies, including 150 clinical trials.  Dr. Gomez was honored with the 2006 Medical Advancement in Breast Cancer Award from the Avon Foundation for his work on the Patients Award Program, which provides grants for innovative research focused on breast cancer.

Dr. Gomez has established and sustained partnerships with both private and nonprofit organizations.  He has overseen an extensive network of investigators in various Latin American countries.  Dr. Gomez has been a pioneer within DHHS, NCI, and the federal government, serving Hispanic populations by employing his diplomatic and linguistic skills. Under his leadership, OLACPD will ensure continued advancement in cancer care for Hispanic populations in the United States and Latin America.