The Associate Director for Cancer Prevention and Control Research is appointed by and reports to the Director of the Cancer Center. The position is responsible for the development and coordination of the Center's two research programs in Cancer Prevention and Cancer Control, and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and inter-programmatic interactions within the division. The Associate Director also works closely with the Director and other senior leaders to facilitate collaborations with the basic and clinical science divisions. The Associate Director also serves on the Center's Executive Committee and Leadership Group, thus playing a key role in setting strategic direction, policy and priorities for the Cancer Center.

Dr. Gapstur received her MPH degree in 1989 and PhD degree in 1993 from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health in epidemiology with a focus on laboratory based translational epidemiologic studies. In 1994, following post-graduate research training at the University of Arizona, Arizona Cancer Center, Dr. Gapstur joined the faculty in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. Dr. Gapstur is an Associate Professor and her promotion to full Professor is currently under consideration. As an epidemiologist, her research and mentoring objectives are to (1) integrate traditional epidemiologic methods with biochemical and molecular techniques in research that focuses on lifestyles and genetic factors associated with intermediate markers of hormone-related cancers and on potential prevention strategies for hormonally-related cancers, and in reducing racial disparities in the morbidity and mortality of such cancers; and (2) to train skilled clinical and public health investigators in the appropriate design, conduct and interpretation of epidemiologic research. She has developed independent and collaborative research studies focusing on the molecular epidemiology of lifestyle factors, hormones and genetic factors linked to breast and prostate cancer. Dr. Gapstur's primary research studies focus on disentangling the effects of aging, ethnicity, obesity and energy balance that contribute to the inter-individual variation in hormones and growth factors linked to prostate cancer etiology. These studies are critical for developing appropriate statistical models for assessing the independent associations of hormones and growth factors with risk of prostate cancer. Dr. Gapstur has had continued funding since 1999 from NCI to conduct these studies (Determinants of Steroid Hormones in Black and White Men RO1 CA077704). In addition, Dr. Gapstur is PI of a community based study of the determinants of mammographic breast density among Latino women (Chicago Breast Health Project funded by the Avon Foundation and the SPORE in Breast Cancer). She is also the PI of the R25 Postdoctoral Training Program in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention (R25 CA100600).

Dr. Gapstur assumed the position of Associate Director for Cancer Prevention and Control Research in September, 2004, having previously served as a program leader for the Prevention Program. Her appointment reflects the recommendation of the previous review that this division had grown to a level justifying leadership by a senior scientist with cancer prevention and control expertise. Dr. Philip Greenland, then the Chairman of Preventive Medicine, who had been serving in this role, was recognized as having contributed significantly to the creation of the division and both programs, but that continued growth and development warranted senior leadership with more focused cancer expertise. As detailed above, Dr. Gapstur is well qualified for this role. Over the past two years she has worked aggressively with both programs and across divisions of the Center. Dr. Gapstur was also instrumental in development of the Office of Special Populations Initiatives in 2005 and works closely with the Administrative Director of that office on community outreach and diversity initiatives for the Cancer Center. In her role as Associate Director Dr. Gapstur oversees the distribution of philanthropy targeting cancer prevention and control initiatives. In 2005 this included a $100,000 gift from the Malnati/Bears Care organization for cancer prevention and control, and recently a recurring commitment for the Kozloff Travel Grant Program for trainees in the Division, newly funded by a generous donor. In addition, she oversees the Cancer Control grant awarded annually through the Center's ACS-IRG mechanism. Dr. Gapstur will also work closely with the Avon Foundation funded community outreach program providing free breast cancer screening to women in a Federally Qualified Health Center affiliated with Northwestern and serving a predominantly Hispanic population.

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