The Allen and Lee-Hwa Chao Lectureship in Cancer Research

Internationally renowned physician-scientist, Ronald A. DePinho, M.D. is Professor and Past President at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He holds the Harry Graves Burkhart III Distinguished University Chair in Cancer Research. He has made groundbreaking discoveries that have illuminated fundamental mechanisms of cancer, aging and age-associated degenerative disorders, and has devoted his life to reducing the burden of cancer, particularly for the underserved.

Dr. DePinho’s efforts to impact the cancer problem have ranged from conducting innovative research, pioneering the development and use of mouse models of human cancer and of aging, educating the next generation of physicians and scientists, promoting public health through advocacy and policy, founding new biopharmaceutical companies, and catalyzing cross-sector collaborative programs such as MD Anderson’s Cancer Moon Shots Program which inspired the national cancer moonshot. He is co-founder and Vice Chair of Act for NIH which has successfully advocated for increased research funding for the NIH and is co-founder and Chairman of Opa Health which is focused on disease prevention in underserved communities.

For his significant contributions to cancer, aging and healthcare, Dr. DePinho has received numerous honors and awards including Portuguese knighthood and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Science, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association of the Advancement of Science and the American Association of Cancer Research.