Lisa Coussens, PhD
Founder
Lisa M. Coussens is a distinguished cancer biologist renowned for her pioneering research on the tumor microenvironment and the role of immune cells in cancer development.he currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology and as the Deputy Director for Basic & Translational Research at the Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).dditionally, she holds the Hildegard Lamfrom Endowed Chair in Basic Science at OHSU.
Dr. Coussens earned her Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State University.he then obtained her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1993, where her research focused on the regulation of junB expression.ollowing her doctoral studies, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Biology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) under the mentorship of Dr. Douglas Hanahan.uring this time, she utilized transgenic mouse models to demonstrate that chronic inflammation is established in early cancers and subsequently drives tumor development.
Throughout her career, Dr. Coussens has made seminal contributions to understanding how immune cells and their mediators regulate solid tumor development.er research has elucidated the dual roles of immune cells, particularly myeloid cells, in both suppressing and promoting tumor progression.he has identified critical pathways by which tumors co-opt immune cells to support cancer development and has demonstrated that targeting these pathways can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.hese discoveries have been translated into clinical trials evaluating immune-based therapies in cancers such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma and triple-negative breast cancer.
Dr. Coussens has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Gertrude B. Elion Award from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the Mallinckrodt Award for Medical Science, a V Foundation Scholar Award, and two consecutive Era of Hope Scholar Awards from the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.n 2012, she received the AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lectureship, and in 2015, she was honored with the 13th Rosalind E. Franklin Award from the National Cancer Institute.
In addition to her research and academic roles, Dr. Coussens has held significant leadership positions within the scientific community.he served as the 2022-2023 President of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), where she has been an active member since 2001.er service includes roles on the AACR Board of Directors and participation in numerous committees, reflecting her commitment to advancing cancer research and supporting the scientific community.
Dr. Coussens' work continues to influence the field of cancer biology, particularly in understanding the complex interactions between tumors and the immune system, and in developing novel therapeutic strategies that modulate the tumor microenvironment to improve cancer treatment
Publications
Dr. Lisa M. Coussens has made significant contributions to cancer research, particularly in understanding the tumor microenvironment and the role of immune cells in cancer progression. Here are four of her notable publications:
"Accessories to the crime: functions of cells recruited to the tumor microenvironment" (2012): In this influential paper, Dr. Coussens and co-author Douglas Hanahan discuss how various non-cancerous cells within the tumor microenvironment contribute to tumor progression, highlighting the complex interactions between tumor cells and their surrounding stroma.
"Macrophages and therapeutic resistance in cancer" (2015): This publication explores the role of macrophages in mediating resistance to cancer therapies, providing insights into how these immune cells can influence treatment outcomes and suggesting potential strategies to overcome therapeutic resistance.
"High-dimensional multiplexed immunohistochemical characterization of immune contexture in human cancers" (2020): In this study, Dr. Coussens and colleagues developed a novel multiplex immunohistochemistry platform to comprehensively analyze the tumor-immune microenvironment, offering a valuable tool for assessing immune cell interactions in human cancers.
"TIM-3 Regulates CD103+ Dendritic Cell Function and Response to Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer" (2018): This research investigates the role of the immune checkpoint receptor TIM-3 in regulating dendritic cell function and its impact on chemotherapy response in breast cancer, contributing to the understanding of immune modulation in cancer therapy.
These publications underscore Dr. Coussens' pivotal role in elucidating the interactions between the immune system and cancer, advancing the development of immunotherapeutic strategies.
Education
Dr. Lisa M. Coussens has an extensive educational background in biology and cancer research. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from San Francisco State University in 1980. She then pursued her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), completing it in 1993. Her doctoral research focused on the regulation of junB expression by transforming growth factor-beta, adenovirus12-E1A, and the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product.
Following her Ph.D., Dr. Coussens conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the laboratory of Dr. Douglas Hanahan. During this time, she utilized transgenic mouse models to study multi-stage cancer progression, demonstrating that chronic inflammation is established in early cancers and subsequently drives tumor development.
Dr. Coussens' educational journey has been foundational to her pioneering work in cancer biology, particularly in understanding the role of the immune system in tumor development.
Professional Activities
Dr. Lisa M. Coussens has an extensive record of professional activities that have significantly contributed to the field of cancer research. She currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology and as the Deputy Director for Basic & Translational Research at the Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). In these roles, she leads research initiatives focused on understanding the tumor microenvironment and the role of immune cells in cancer development.
Dr. Coussens has been actively involved with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), serving as its President for the 2022–2023 term. She has also held positions on the AACR Board of Directors and participated in numerous committees, reflecting her commitment to advancing cancer research and supporting the scientific community.
Her contributions to the scientific community extend to editorial roles, including serving as a scientific editor for the AACR journal Cancer Discovery since 2017 and as a senior editor of Cancer Immunology Research since 2012. She has also held various positions on the editorial board of Cancer Research from 2003 to 2012, including associate, senior, and deputy editor.
Dr. Coussens' professional activities also include membership on several external scientific advisory boards and review panels. She has served on the External Advisory Board (EAB) for institutions such as the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota and the Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research at MIT. Additionally, she has been a member of scientific review boards for organizations like the Cancer Research Institute and The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
Throughout her career, Dr. Coussens has been recognized with numerous awards, including the AACR Gertrude B. Elion Award (2001), the AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lectureship (2012), and the Susan G. Komen Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science (2018). She was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2018 and as a Fellow of the AACR Academy in 2019.
Dr. Coussens' extensive professional activities underscore her dedication to advancing cancer research, mentoring emerging scientists, and contributing to the broader scientific community.
