September 25,
2001
Caryn E. Lerman, PhD, Named Associate
Director for Cancer Control and Population Science at
the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center
(Philadelphia,
PA) - Caryn E. Lerman, PhD, has been named Associate
Director for Cancer Control and Population Science at
the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center and Director
of the Tobacco Research Program at the Leonard &
Madlyn Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute. Lerman,
a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine, will also have an appointment at
Penn's Annenberg Public Policy Center.
"Dr. Lerman's recruitment is such a vital component
to realizing our overall mission," said John H.
Glick, MD, Director of the University of Pennsylvania
Cancer Center and the Abramson Institute. "Caryn
is a pre-eminent cancer control researcher with recognized
expertise in tobacco control research. She's an exceptional
scientific leader who will significantly elevate the
level of research productivity and collaboration throughout
the Cancer Center."
Lerman's research explores the relationships between
genetics and cancer-related behaviors. As the leader
of Penn's cancer control research effort, she applies
molecular genetic technologies to the development of
new cancer prevention and control strategies. One area
of her research explores patient decision-making and
outcomes of breast and colon cancer genetic testing
for high-risk families. In addition, as part of a Transdisciplinary
Tobacco Use Research Center Grant from the National
Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Drug
Abuse, her team investigates the contribution of genetic
factors to nicotine addiction through basic, clinical
and population research.
Recently, Lerman and her colleagues have linked genetic
variants in the brain's dopamine and serotonin pathways
with smoking behaviors.
"Advances in molecular genetics provide
unprecedented opportunities for identifying
susceptible individuals and targeting disease prevention
and treatment strategies to them," said
Lerman. "However, until such time as disease susceptibility
can be modified at the molecular level, reductions in
morbidity and mortality are most likely to be achieved
by changes in individuals' behaviors. This work has
the potential to alter standard public health approaches
to disease prevention by leading to interventions that
are individually tailored to a patient's genetic profile,"
explained Lerman.
Prior to coming to Penn, Lerman was a Professor of Oncology,
Psychiatry, and Pharmacology and Associate Director
for Cancer Control and Population Science at the Lombardi
Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Lerman earned her undergraduate degree in psychology
from Pennsylvania State University in 1981. She received
a master's in psychology in 1982 and a doctorate in
clinical psychology in 1984, both from the University
of Southern California. Prior to going to Goergetown
in 1993, she was Director of Behavioral Oncology Research
at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Lerman has been the recipient of the New Investigator
Award from the Society of Behavioral Medicine, the Preventive
Oncology Academic Award from the National Cancer Institute/National
Institutes of Health, and the Award for Outstanding
Contributions to Health Psychology from the American
Psychological Association. She currently serves on the
Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) and has co-chaired the NCI Tobacco Research
Implementation Group.
Lerman lives with her husband Troy Brady and golden
retriever Hillary in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
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