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Caryn Lerman: John H. Glick, MD Professor in Cancer Research

Caryn Lerman has been named the John H. Glick, MD Professor in Cancer Research. She is also the Vice Dean for Strategic Initiatives for the Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Lerman has also held roles as co-director of the Penn Medicine Translational Neuroscience Center, senior deputy director of the Abramson Cancer Center and interim chair for the department of psychiatry.

“Since joining Penn in 2001, Dr. Lerman has proven to be a prolific researcher, making exceptional contributions to the scientific mission of the medical school,” said J. Larry Jameson, dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and executive vice president for the Health System. “Her work embodies the important collaboration between disciplines that distinguishes Penn Medicine as a top-tier academic medical center.”

The Glick Professorship in Cancer Research was made possible through the generosity of numerous philanthropic partners, and honors John Glick, the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Professor of Clinical Oncology.  A nationally recognized medical oncologist and clinical investigator in the areas of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and breast cancer, Dr. Glick served as director of the Abramson Cancer Center from 1985 to 2006.

Dr. Lerman began her work at Penn as a professor of psychiatry and associate director for population sciences for the Abramson Cancer Center. Her initial position included a secondary appointment with the Annenberg School for Communication, from which she forged a bridge between the fields of psychology, cancer prevention and health communication.

Dr. Lerman’s work is distinguished not only by its interdisciplinary bridging, but also by its potential to transform clinical practice. Her pioneering work elucidating genetic underpinnings of tobacco addiction culminated in the validation of a biomarker for targeted therapy for tobacco addiction. Dr. Lerman has also created a highly novel research program that harnesses advances in cognitive neuroscience to promote cancer risk behavior change, laying the foundation for her receipt of the National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award in 2015. Her innovative scientific program is likely to have transformative effects on current paradigms for behavioral cancer prevention.

Dr. Lerman is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and her work has been presented in more than 365 peer-reviewed publications. She has served as a member of the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research, the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Advisors and the National Institute on Drug Abuse Advisory Council.

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