CURE Scholar Dr. Lauren E. McCullough on What Has Become Her Life and Motivation, Her Curated Training Experience, and Her R01 in Breast Cancer Disparities

October 21, 2022, by CRCHD Staff

What inspired your interest in cancer research and, specifically, cancer disparities research?

I have a deep, personal connection to the city of Atlanta and the Winship Cancer Institute. Winship is where I interacted with clinicians, patients, and advocacy groups long before I was ever faculty at Emory. My interest in cancer research was born there, navigating the halls of the cancer center with my dad and, subsequently, other friends and relatives with cancer—including breast cancer (BC). Cancer has woven itself into the fabric of my family. It is my life, and they are my motivation. My interest in disparities is also personal. As a Black woman from the urban South, I have seen firsthand disproportionate access to quality care—whether it be due to economic, social, or institutional barriers. Dismantling disparities in cancer outcomes requires acknowledgement and understanding of their structural drivers and a personal connection with the communities that have been historically underserved.

My interest in cancer research was born there, navigating the halls of the cancer center with my dad and, subsequently, other friends and relatives with cancer—including breast cancer (BC). Cancer has woven itself into the fabric of my family. It is my life, and they are my motivation.

How have you and your career been impacted by receiving an NCI CRCHD CURE Diversity Supplement?

As I explored postdoctoral opportunities, I was not sold on any one lab or Principal Investigator (PI) to work with. They all had unique contributions to my research agenda, and I needed to piece them together to obtain the skills and experiences needed for my work. The CURE supplement to the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Cancer Control Education Program allowed me to curate my own training experiences across institutions and spanning multiple projects. Ultimately, it made me competitive in the job market and aided in my securing several tenure-track job offers at top research institutions.

The CURE supplement…allowed me to curate my own training experiences across institutions and spanning multiple projects. Ultimately, it made me competitive in the job market…

In 2021, you earned an NCI R01 to better understand breast cancer mortality disparities. Congratulations! Can you describe what you will be exploring in this research?

Although national and philanthropic efforts have sought to reduce and eliminate breast cancer mortality disparities over the past few decades, they have not only persisted, but widened. Additionally, due to incomplete capture of recurrence data, no previous investigation has identified drivers of disparities in BC recurrence following a diagnosis of early-stage (I–IIIA) disease. In Georgia, where economic and racial/ethnic disparities are among the greatest in the United States, the sources of BC outcome disparities are unresolved and likely arise from the interplay of causal and contributing factors at multiple levels—from cell to society. Approximately 40% of all BC survivors will suffer a recurrence during their lifetime, and clinical data suggest a higher risk of recurrence in minority and low-income women, but population data are lacking. Given the high lifetime risk of recurrence, posited racial/ethnic disparities in recurrent BC, and documented mortality disparities across demographic domains, we will estimate risks and rates of BC recurrence by demographic characteristics and use a multilevel decomposition approach to identify potential targets for intervention, ranging from clinical to policy.

We will estimate risks and rates of BC recurrence by demographic characteristics and use a multilevel decomposition approach to identify potential targets for intervention, ranging from clinical to policy.

You had the opportunity to work with and remain a mentee of Dr. Cathrine Hoyo, a former CURE K01 recipient who became a CURE Distinguished Scholar in 2020. Could you share a valuable piece(s) of advice Dr. Hoyo has shared with you?

Cathrine is an amazing scholar and master strategist. Working with her at Duke University and then North Carolina State University was the first time I saw bench science, population science, and community engagement come together in research. It was impactful and inspirational. I also learned how to sell my proposals and find fit with the right Institute and program officer. She taught me that being successful is not just about great science, but also about strategy and remaining persistent.

Is there anything else that would be helpful to know about you and your career path thus far?

As a lifelong teacher, I share my passion for my work through teaching and mentorship. The crux of my teaching philosophy is that we are all students; every interaction provides an opportunity for teaching and learning—no matter the person or environment. This has been an essential component of my life and success. I have been fortunate to work with 10 doctoral and postdoctoral trainees during my time at Emory, and each one has contributed tremendously to our research program, the field, and who I am as a scientist.

As a lifelong teacher, I share my passion for my work through teaching and mentorship. The crux of my teaching philosophy is that we are all students; every interaction provides an opportunity for teaching and learning—no matter the person or environment. This has been an essential component of my life and success.