EGRP News Flash - December 17, 2008

Robert T. Croyle, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National Cancer Institute

Deborah (Debbie) Winn, PH.D. appointed as Deputy Director of DCCPS

I am pleased to announce the appointment of DEBORAH (DEBBIE) WINN, PH.D., as Deputy Director of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS), National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. Winn has been serving as the Acting Associate Director of DCCPS’s Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program (EGRP) since 2006. Prior to that, she was a Senior Epidemiologist and Chief of the former Clinical and Genetic Epidemiology Research Branch in EGRP.

During her tenure in DCCPS, Dr. Winn has directed and coordinated NCI’s extensive extramural program of population-based research in cancer epidemiology. She has played critical roles in NCI’s bioinformatics efforts in population sciences and has served as a key spokesperson for NCI on epidemiologic topics of interest to Congress and the public. In addition to her long-standing collaborations and research activities in head and neck cancer epidemiology, she has represented NCI on several NIH working groups and advisory committees for genetics research. She also has served on national and international committees focusing on issues such as women’s health and the environment and tobacco-related health risks and regulation.

Prior to joining DCCPS in 2000, Dr. Winn was an intramural Senior Investigator and Branch Chief for oral epidemiology at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She also is former Deputy Director of the Division of Health Interview Statistics at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Winn holds a M.S.P.H. and a Ph.D. in epidemiology from the School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In addition to Dr. Winn’s numerous scientific accomplishments, she is uniformly respected for her thoughtful approach to many complex and controversial issues at the interface of science, policy, the environment, and public health. Her appointment reflects the importance of epidemiology research to the mission and constituency of DCCPS.

Over the past two years, Dr. Winn has led the reorganization of EGRP to better advance and serve today’s scientific questions in cancer epidemiology research. EGRP has been strengthened substantially by the recruitment of outstanding new staff who complement the experienced members of the Program. I encourage you to visit the EGRP staff list Web page to familiarize yourself with the friendly faces of this dedicated and productive team.

Dr. Winn will remain the Acting Associate Director of EGRP until a permanent appointment is made. Rachel Ballard-Barbash, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Director of DCCPS’s Applied Research Program (ARP), will be Chair of the Search Committee and lead a nationwide search for a new EGRP Associate Director. The Committee will include members from within and outside NIH. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Interested parties should send a letter of interest and a CV to the following address:

Attention: Stacey Vandor
Office of the Director
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Boulevard, Room 6136
Rockville, MD 20852