Funmi olopade biography of donald
•
A conversation with Olufunmilayo Olopade
Physician and geneticist Dr. Funmi Olopade is the founding director of the Center for Cancer Genetics and Global Health at the University of Chicago (Figure 1). Olopade’s research is focused on gaining a better understanding of the root causes and genomic basis of cancer in diverse populations. She is internationally renowned for her work in inherited cancer syndromes and for her clinical expertise in early detection and prevention of breast cancer in high-risk women. To hear her talk about doing physics problems for fun, see the full video on the JCI website at www.jci.org/videos/cgms
Figure 1. Olufunmilayo Olopade speaking at a conference in Vietnam in August 2023.
Open in a new tab
JCI: What were you like as a child?
Olopade: I grew up in Nigeria. I started school in a very small town called Ijebu Igbo, although I was born in Abeokuta. I’m number five of six children and was very quiet as a child. My father was a pastor. In h
•
Olufunmilayo Falusi Olopade, a physician scientist, is the Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics, Dean for Global Health and Director, Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics at The University of Chicago. A global leader in Medicine, Olopade's pioneering work led to the translation of advances in human genetics to the benefit of women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. She extended the research on cancer susceptibility genes to women of African ancestry in Nigeria and provided the first reports on the spectrum of pathogenic genetic mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in African American and African women. Her pioneering work showed that the aggressive features of BRCA1-associated tumors were due to unique patterns of gene amplification in these tumors. This work contributed to further refinement of breast cancer into distinct molecular subtypes that are differentially distributed across populations and contribute to disparities in br
•
BCRF to Honor Dr. Olufunmilayo (Funmi) inom. Olopade with Jill Rose Award
Dr. Olopade will receive BCRF’s highest scientific award at its annual Symposium and Awards Luncheon
Every year at our annual Symposium and Awards Luncheon, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation honors one researcher’s groundbreaking contributions in their field with the Jill Rose Award for Scientific överlägsen kvalitet eller utmärkt prestation. At this year’s event on October 20, BCRF is proud to recognize Dr. Olufunmilayo (Funmi) I. Olopade.
“I was surprised and very happy to learn inom was getting the Jill Rose Award because it is so prestigious,” she said. “So many prominent breast cancer researchers around the world have won it and it’s an honor to be in their company.”
Dr. Olopade, a native of Nigeria, fryst vatten globally renowned as an expert in risk assessment and individualized treatment for the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. Her work has advanced early detection, treatment, and prevention of breast cancer in women at high fara f