CURE Distinguished Scholars Seminars
CRCHD proudly celebrates the history of the Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) program by honoring some of our most accomplished scholars, mentors and champions, as well as their achievements in the CURE program, through the CURE Distinguished Scholars Seminars (DSS).
The CURE DSS recognize outstanding former CURE scholars and their research. These scientific seminars highlight leading-edge cancer health disparities research, along with new advancements, ideas, and trends in the field of cancer disparities.
Over the course of more than two decades, the CURE program has supported more than 4,000 CURE students, trainees and early-stage investigators. CRCHD is inspired by their competitiveness in obtaining research funding, their contributions to the field of cancer and cancer health disparities research, the remarkable vision and innovation in their work, and their continued commitment to the CURE program.
CRCHD also recognized scholars at a 2017 event, Celebrating 21 Years of the CURE Program Recognition Ceremony.
Upcoming Seminar
May 16, 2024
Molecular Disparities in Familial and Sporadic Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Model for a Physician-Scientist Career
Marcia Cruz-Correa, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine & Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus
Investigator, UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center
San Juan, PR
Past Seminars
May 4, 2023
Health Equity Requires More than the Sum of the Parts: The Colorectal Cancer Model
Chyke A. Doubeni, MD, MPH
Chief Health Equity Officer
Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute
Columbus, OH
Watch the recording of this seminar.
May 5, 2022
Tobacco Control in the Pediatric Healthcare Setting
E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens, MD, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Professor of Research and Attending Physician, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Emergency Medicine
Cincinnati, OH
Watch the recording of this seminar.
October 14, 2021
Structure, Trust and Science
Robert A. Winn, MD
Director and Lipman Chair in Oncology, VCU Massey Cancer Center
Senior Associate Dean for Cancer Innovation and Professor of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, VCU School of Medicine
Richmond, VA
Watch the recording of this seminar.
February 17, 2021
Epidemiologic, Clinical and Molecular Factors Associated with Risk of Adverse Outcomes Among Breast and Colorectal Cancer Patients
Christopher I. Li, MD, PhD
Full Professor, Division of Public Health Sciences
Faculty Director, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Research Full Professor, Department of Epidemiology
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
October 21, 2020
Toxic Metal Exposure Disparities, Epigenomic Response and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHAD) Framework
Cathrine Hoyo, PhD, MPH
Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Biological Sciences
Co-Director of the Integrated Health Sciences Facility Core, Center for Human Health and the Environment
Director of the Epidemiology and Environmental Epigenomics Laboratory
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC
October 9, 2019
Advancing Cancer Health Equity: Understanding the "Why” and “What” is Needed to Transform the Landscape
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG
President and Dean
Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, GA
June 13, 2019
Successes and Challenges in Early Phase Drug Development for Cancer Therapy
Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD, FACP, FASCO
Professor of Oncology
Professor of Pharmacology
Director, Early Cancer Therapeutics
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
October 17, 2018
Translational Issues in Cancer Health Disparities
Chanita Hughes-Halbert, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
AT&T Distinguished Endowed Chair for Cancer Equity, Hollings Cancer Center
Associate Dean for Assessment, Evaluation, and Quality Improvement, College of Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina
Dr. Hughes-Halbert discussed sociocultural, psychological, genetic, and environmental determinants of cancer health disparities and how to translate this information into community interventions to improve cancer outcomes in racially and ethnically diverse populations.
July 24, 2018
The Science of Oncology Therapeutic Development
Levi Garraway, MD, PhD
Senior Vice President
Global Development and Medical Affairs
Eli Lilly and Company
Dr. Garraway presented his research on the molecular and genomic characterization of human solid tumors.
October 5, 2017
A Role for Inflammation-Induced DNA Mismatch Repair Deficits in Racial Outcomes from Advanced Colorectal Cancer
John M. Carethers, MD, MACP
C. Richard Boland Distinguished University Professor
John G. Searle Professor and Chair, Internal Medicine
Professor, Human Genetics
University of Michigan
Dr. Carethers presented highlights from his current research in hereditary colon cancer, tumor progression, and colorectal cancer disparities.
Inaugural Lecture – June 28, 2017
Teams: Leveraging the Power of Collaboration to Advance Your Science and Reduce Disparities
Lewis R. Roberts, MB, ChB, PhD
Peter and Frances Georgeson Professor in Gastroenterology Cancer Research
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Dr. Roberts presented his work in liver and bile duct cancers, which featured his research on the mechanisms of liver and biliary carcinogenesis and biomarkers to improve diagnosis, and the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis and liver cancer in immigrant African and U.S. communities.