In the past, molecular and cellular oncology research often began with the idea that cells are cells and proteins are proteins, and it didn’t especially matter who provided the sample.
However, experience and scientific advancement have demonstrated otherwise. Researchers now are working to address and correct the long-standing biases and inequities that guided not only sample collection, but drug development and other areas of molecular and cellular oncology research.
Patricia Ernst, PhD, a professor of pediatrics and of pharmacology, and Tin Tin Su, PhD, a professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at the University of Colorado Boulder, are newly partnered as co-leaders of the University of Colorado Cancer Center’s Molecular and Cellular Oncology (MCO) program. Among their goals in partnering with MCO-affiliated researchers is to continue growing the commitment to diversity and equity in research. They recently facilitated the MCO’s annual retreat, which focused on studying cancer equitably.
We recently discussed with them how an equity lens can continue being brought to molecular and cellular oncology research.