Lisa Coussens

Dr. Coussens is Chairwoman of the Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, and Associate Director for Basic Research in the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Sciences University, and holds the Hildegard Lamfrom Endowed Chair in Basic Science.

Dr. Coussens’ research is focused on revealing roles of normal immune cells in regulating various facets of solid tumor development, identifying leukocyte activities that are co-opted by early tumors to support ongoing cancer development, and responses to cytotoxic therapies. Utilizing mouse models of skin and mammary carcinoma, mesothelioma, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, her research identified critical immune-regulated pathways for therapeutic targeting that are being translated in the clinic in combination with chemotherapy in women with metastatic triple negative breast cancer, pancreas cancer and head & neck squamous cancers.

In recognition of her research contributions to studying underlying mechanisms of cancer development, Dr. Coussens’ has been acknowledged with multiple awards including, a V Foundation Scholar Award (2000), the AACR-Gertrude B. Elion Award (2001), the AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lectureship (2012), the 13th Rosalind E. Franklin Award from the NCI (2015), a Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina (2018), and the AACR-Princess Takamatsu Memorial Lectureship (2018).