Keynote Remarks by the New NCI Director at the 2024 DCB New Grantee Workshop
Shortly after being sworn in as the 17th NCI Director, Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell gave keynote remarks with vignettes from her career journey at the 2024 DCB New Grantee Workshop.
To introduce Dr. Rathmell at the meeting, Dr. Chamelli Jhappan (a science administrator in the DCB Cancer Immunology, Hematology, and Etiology Branch) said, “I hold the distinction of being the program director assigned to the very first R01 of a new grantee, who not only attended this New Grantee Workshop many years ago but has also gone on to be the director of the NCI. And that is a great role model for all of you, something to work toward.”
Following this, Dr. Rathmell began her talk by telling DCB new grantees that she remembers being in their place back in 2007. At the time, she was really excited about her first R01 grant, but also wondering how she was going to get a second grant.
Next, she shared, that “it's the best time ever to be in cancer research.” Dr. Rathmell explained that recent discoveries in the field are exciting, new technologies are advancing progress, and research is really having an impact on people with cancer.
To an audience of new grantees, she continued by describing her grant history. Dr. Rathmell said that others may say, “all of my grants get funded, or I never have a grant that's not discussed”; however, the NCI Director explained that she’s had grant applications that were withdrawn and not discussed, as well as grants that continued for many years. Dr. Rathmell also encouraged earlier stage investigators to reach out to a mentor for help in writing grant applications and to look for multiple sources of funding.
Research Projects
During the next part of her talk, Dr. Rathmell discussed her career in cancer research.
She described her first project, which focused on the generation of mouse models of kidney cancer to examine early drivers of tumorigenesis.
Her lab’s studies, specifically some chemical screens in kidney cancer cells, led to investigations of Ror2 (a WNT signaling molecule). It became an interesting treatment target that they explored as part of the NCI Experimental Therapeutics (NExT) program. Now, based on cancer biology research, companies have developed bispecific antibodies targeting Ror2.
Along with discussing her scientific research, the NCI Director discussed the importance of Principal Investigator and Program Director interactions. She said, “The program officers are really looking out for you. When you call them and ask questions, they will really help you. They are your advocates.”
Mentoring Trainees
After describing some of her scientific research projects, Dr. Rathmell discussed mentorship by remarking on the importance of training and fostering the next generation of cancer researchers. “There's something about training people that is really, really special,” she stated.
Looking to the DCB new grantees, the NCI Director said, “These people that you're training today are going to be people that you are connected to for the rest of your life.”
Dr. Rathmell then discussed the importance of moments of discovery through mentorship. She shared that her laboratory was running into challenges in their studies of SETD2 (a histone methyltransferase that's mutated in kidney cancer). They found that when you knock out SETD2 in cancer cells, there’s an excess of bridging chromosomes. When her team started investigating the chromosomes (via old-fashioned metaphase spreads), they observed that the chromosomes had two centromeres. After two years of hard work, they realized that they were palindromic chromosomes that are prone to breaks.
Dr. Rathmell explained that with these findings, “we have a super cool mechanism. But every piece [of data] along that step was a trainee running into my office or sending me an email and showing me something interesting.” She further mentioned that those type of moments of scientific discovery are “why we are here” and encouraged new grantees to enjoy those trainee breakthroughs.
Building Networks with Role Models and Peers
Along with sharing her experiences as a mentor, Dr. Rathmell also described mentors and role models who helped her during her career.
She talked about her graduate school advisor who was one of the people who told her, “You should stay in the lab. It will really be fun, and the science is very cool.” They encouraged her to continue in research throughout the stages of her career journey. This mentor also helped provide guidance and encouragement as Dr. Rathmell was making decisions about her career future, as well as asking questions about raising a family as a scientist. She described her mentor as “somebody who's been a support system for me, all the way through.”
Dr. Rathmell advised the DCB new grantees to reach out to and thank their mentors.
Along with discussing mentees and mentors, Dr. Rathmell also discussed the importance of peer groups during her talk.
She shared how Dr. Ned Sharpless, a previous NCI Director, became her peer when they both were starting their laboratories. She got to know him very well as they worked together as new investigators. Dr. Rathmell thinks that he may have thrown her name into the hat for her current position. “So, you never know, but one of these people [at the workshop] might help you be the NCI Director someday,” she stated.
The NCI Director also talked about being forming a group with other women researchers, which was called Happy Hour. They would meet once a month to celebrate a win, ranging from getting a paper published to a student having a successful committee meeting. The women from this group are now leading various centers, institutions, and organizations now, around the country. Dr. Rathmell said, “That group was a huge part of my success. I must credit them with helping me make it through.”
She encouraged the new grantees at the meeting to form a strong support system with their peers and communities.
Priorities and Closing Remarks
Dr. Rathmell closed by discussing some of her goals as the new NCI Director.
She said, “Investigator-initiated work is definitely my priority.” Dr. Rathmell further explained that she thinks that extramural researchers who are working at the ground level in their field know the next, most exciting things to do for ongoing progress.
To end her talk, Dr. Rathmell told the DCB new grantees, “Because we need to make a dent in cancer, we need to make foundational and translational discoveries, as well as make a clinical output that changes the face of cancer. You are all going to do that. So go all in.”