Gillanders Named an EGRP Branch Chief

Dr. Elizabeth Gillanders

Dr. Elizabeth Gillanders was recently appointed chief of the Host Susceptibility Factors Branch (HSFB) in the Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program in NCI's Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences. Dr. Gillanders received her Ph.D. in genetic epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University.

Before joining NCI, she worked at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), where she headed its intramural Genetic Epidemiology Unit within the Cancer Genetics Branch. Her applied research at NHGRI focused on genetic epidemiology of cancer susceptibility, with an emphasis on melanoma, prostate cancer, and breast cancer epidemiology. She also investigated new ways to improve the power of conventional methods for gene discovery for complex traits.

As branch chief of HSFB, she oversees epidemiologic research in the etiology of cancer in human populations related to personal susceptibility factors such as genetic, epigenetic, immunological, and hormonal biological pathways.

NCI Symposium Addresses Impact of Biospecimens on Cancer Research

NCI will sponsor the second annual Biospecimen Research Network Symposium, “Advancing Cancer Research through Biospecimen Science,” March 16–18 in Bethesda, MD. The symposium will address the impact of pre-analytical biospecimen variables on cancer research and molecular medicine.

Hosted by NCI's Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research, this symposium brings together the broad range of stakeholders whose work involves biospecimens, including research investigators, clinicians, pathologists, industry representatives, hospital administrators, and patient advocates. To register online, go to http://brnsymposium.com.