Maura L. Gillison | |
---|---|
Born | Canada |
Academic background | |
Education | BSc, Zoology, 1987, Duke University MD, 1991, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine DrPH, 2001, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health |
Thesis | Evidence for a causal association between human papillomavirus and a subset of head and neck cancers (2001) |
Academic work | |
Institutions | MD Anderson Cancer Center Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Johns Hopkins University |
Maura Lianne Gillison is an American medical oncologist and molecular epidemiologist. She is credited as the first investigator to establish a connection between HPV and oral cancer.
Gillison was born in Canada but moved regularly through Canada,the United States,and Mexico,due to her father's position. [1] She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Duke University before moving to Maryland for her medical degree and PhD at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). [2]
As a graduate student,Gillison co-published a study in 2000 through the Journal of the National Cancer Institute which demonstrated a link between human papillomavirus virus (HPV)-16 and oropharyngeal cancers. She is credited as the first investigator to establish a connection between HPV and oral cancer. [3] She later stated that although the paper impacted her entire career,she was "having so much fun that I didn’t realize its implications." [1] Following her time at JHU,Gillison was inducted as a member of Delta Omega,an honorary society for studies in public health. [4]
Following her 2000 study,Gillison became the senior investigator on a 2007 New England Journal of Medicine study Case–Control Study of Human Papillomavirus and Oropharyngeal Cancer showing that HPV 16 infection results in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCCs) in both men and women,and that having multiple oral sex partners increases the risk for developing these cancers. [5] The following year,Gillison and her research team described distinct risk factor profiles for HPV16–positive and HPV16–negative HNSCCs. [3]
Gillison was recruited from JHU in 2009 to join the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center with research grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In the same year,she presented data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference showing that HPV is the most important predictor of clinical response to tumor therapy and prognosis for patients with these cancers. As a result of her work,the NCI recommended that clinical trials in HNSCC stratify tumors by HPV status. [6] The following year,she was inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation. [7] She was also honored by the American Association for Cancer Research with the 2012 Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Memorial Award. [8]
As the Jeg Coughlin Chair in Cancer Research,professor in the division of medical oncology,and member of the cancer control program at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center,Gillison was elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine. [9] She was also inducted into JHU's Society of Scholars in 2016. [10]
In 2017,Gillison joined the MD Anderson Cancer Center to continue her research into HPV-caused cancers. She also began investigating the genetics underlying how HPV causes human cells to become cancerous. [1] During the COVID-19 pandemic,Gillison was appointed to Sensei Biotherapeutics,Inc's Immuno-Oncology Advisory Board. [11] She was also the recipient of the 2021 David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award and Lecture from the ASCO. [12]
Human papillomavirus infection is caused by a DNA virus from the Papillomaviridae family. Many HPV infections cause no symptoms and 90% resolve spontaneously within two years. In some cases,an HPV infection persists and results in either warts or precancerous lesions. These lesions,depending on the site affected,increase the risk of cancer of the cervix,vulva,vagina,penis,anus,mouth,tonsils,or throat. Nearly all cervical cancer is due to HPV,and two strains –HPV16 and HPV18 –account for 70% of all cases. HPV16 is responsible for almost 90% of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers. Between 60% and 90% of the other cancers listed above are also linked to HPV. HPV6 and HPV11 are common causes of genital warts and laryngeal papillomatosis.
Head and neck cancer is a general term encompassing multiple cancers that can develop in the head and neck region. These include cancers of the mouth,tongue,gums and lips,voice box (laryngeal),throat,salivary glands,nose and sinuses. Head and neck cancer can present a wide range of symptoms depending on where the cancer developed. These can include an ulcer in the mouth that does not heal,changes in the voice,difficulty swallowing,red or white patches in the mouth,and a neck lump.
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN),also known as cervical dysplasia,is the abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix that could potentially lead to cervical cancer. More specifically,CIN refers to the potentially precancerous transformation of cells of the cervix.
Gardasil is an HPV vaccine for use in the prevention of certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). It was developed by Merck &Co. High-risk human papilloma virus (hr-HPV) genital infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection among women. The HPV strains that Gardasil protects against are sexually transmitted,specifically HPV types 6,11,16 and 18. HPV types 16 and 18 cause an estimated 70% of cervical cancers,and are responsible for most HPV-induced anal,vulvar,vaginal,and penile cancer cases. HPV types 6 and 11 cause an estimated 90% of genital warts cases. HPV type 16 is responsible for almost 90% of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers,and the prevalence is higher in males than females. Though Gardasil does not treat existing infection,vaccination is still recommended for HPV-positive individuals,as it may protect against one or more different strains of the disease.
Charles F. Lynch is a cancer researcher,whose work has been cited 30,000 times. He is a university professor at the University of Iowa. He is director of two large multi-decade studies.
Margaret Anne Stanley,OBE FMedSc,is a British virologist and epithelial biologist. She attended the Universities of London,Bristol,and Adelaide. As of 2018,she is an Emeritus Professor of Epithelial Biology in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and an honorary fellow of Christ's College,Cambridge. Stanley is a research scientist in virology focusing on the human papillomavirus (HPV). Her research work has led to new scientific findings on HPV. Additionally,she uses her expertise on HPV to serve on multiple advisory committees and journal editorial boards.
Oropharyngeal cancer,also known as oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and tonsil cancer,is a disease in which abnormal cells with the potential to both grow locally and spread to other parts of the body are found in the oral cavity,in the tissue of the part of the throat (oropharynx) that includes the base of the tongue,the tonsils,the soft palate,and the walls of the pharynx.
Human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer,is a cancer of the throat caused by the human papillomavirus type 16 virus (HPV16). In the past,cancer of the oropharynx (throat) was associated with the use of alcohol or tobacco or both,but the majority of cases are now associated with the HPV virus,acquired by having oral contact with the genitals of a person who has a genital HPV infection. Risk factors include having a large number of sexual partners,a history of oral-genital sex or anal–oral sex,having a female partner with a history of either an abnormal Pap smear or cervical dysplasia,having chronic periodontitis,and,among men,younger age at first intercourse and a history of genital warts. HPV-positive OPC is considered a separate disease from HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer.
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Maria Saveria Campo FRSE,known as Saveria,is an Italian viral oncologist,known for being the first person to demonstrate an effective papillomavirus vaccine. She developed the vaccine alongside her colleague at the University of Bristol,England,Dr. Richard B.S. Roden. She went on to be recognized for her work and was awarded the position of Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2006. She has worked continuously in the field of Oncology up until her retirement.
Gypsyamber D'Souza is an American epidemiologist. She is a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. D'Souza's main focuses of research are infectious diseases,cancer prevention,and translational epidemiology. She is a principal investigator of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study / Women's Interagency HIV Study Combined Cohort Study (Mwccs.org).
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