The 14th Annual Robert B. Dickson Memorial Lecture: “Why Does Social Isolation Increase the Risk of Cancer and Several Other Diseases?”
A Lecture Held in Memory of Robert B. Dickson, PhD (June 13, 1952 – June 24, 2006)
Guest Speaker:
Leena A. Hilakivi-Clarke, PhD
Professor, Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota
Member, Masonic Cancer Center and Chemoprevention Program, University of Minnesota Medical Center
Assistant Director for Faculty Affairs and Leader, Women’s Health Section, Hormel Institute
Talk Title:
“Why Does Social Isolation Increase the Risk of Cancer and Several Other Diseases?”
Friday, October 11
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
New Research Building Auditorium and via Zoom
About the Speaker
Leena A. Hilakivi-Clarke, PhD, is a professor of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota (UMN), member of Masonic Cancer Center and Chemoprevention program at UMN Medical Center, assistant director for faculty affairs and leader of women’s health section at the Hormel Institute (HI). Before accepting a tenure appointment at UMN and the HI in 2020, she was a professor of Oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center for 30 years, during which time she published three papers with Dr. Dickson regarding TGF-alpha mice, and how social stress impacted their tumorigenesis. Dr. Hilakivi-Clarke’s research interests focus on studying the role of dietary and environmental exposures on breast cancer risk and mortality. These studies include maternal exposures via diet to chemicals which modify offspring’s epigenome and cause gut dysbiosis, both of which can potentially explain increases breast cancer risk and mortality among female offspring. In addition, she has been studying the mechanisms by which social isolation increases breast cancer risk and mortality, focusing on the gut microbiome. She was recently funded to study the role of racial discrimination and social isolation on cardiovascular health in breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors. Her publication record consists of 180 journal articles. She is a recipient of multiple grant awards through her research career, including being a program director for NCI funded U54 program project titled “Timing of dietary exposures and breast cancer risk” to investigate nutritional modulation of genetic/epigenetic pathways leading to breast cancer.
About Robert B. Dickson, PhD (June 13, 1952 – June 24, 2006)
Robert B. Dickson, PhD, was the Cecilia Fisher Rudman Distinguished Professor of Breast Cancer Research, Associate Director for basic science research and education, and Co-Director of the Breast Cancer Program at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. He passed away suddenly at the age of 54 on June 24, 2006, leaving behind many colleagues and friends.
These titles do inadequate justice to his life as a researcher, educator, mentor and family man. Bob Dickson grew up in the Washington, DC, area, and earned degrees at the College of William and Mary and Yale University before returning to Washington to do postdoctoral work under the supervision of Dr. Ira Pastan at the National Institutes of Health. In 1983 he joined the Medicine Branch of the National Cancer Institute, where he began his seminal work on the role of growth factors in estrogen regulated breast cancer growth. In 1988 he was recruited to Georgetown University. During his nearly 20 years at Georgetown Lombardi, Bob initiated a study of tumor-associated proteases, which led to his discovery of Matriptase, the first member of a novel family of serine proteases.
In addition to his research activities, he was instrumental in the growth of the cancer center, building the Breast Cancer Program, establishing the Tumor Biology PhD Program, and filling multiple roles within Georgetown Lombardi and the University. In 2005, Bob was honored with the Cecilia Fisher Rudman Professorship, which was established for him.
Bob Dickson was the consummate team player, constantly thinking of ways to help others and contribute to the institution. He is much missed.