Cancer Luminaries

In this episode of Cancer Luminaries, host Camilla Frost-Brewer speaks with Dr. Maryellen Giger and Dr. Alex Pearson about how AI and machine learning are transforming cancer research and care at UChicago. They discuss the long history of AI in medical imaging, the rise of tools like large language models in clinical workflows, and the promise of AI to improve diagnostics, precision medicine, and patient care. The conversation also highlights the importance of equity, transparency, and thoughtful design as these technologies are integrated into the future of oncology.

This episode centers on how strong, collaborative leadership at the University of Chicago is driving innovation and shaping the future of cancer research and patient care. The conversation explores the personal motivations, day-to-day work, leadership philosophies, and future vision of two prominent cancer leaders: Dr. Sonali Smith (Chief of Hematology Oncology) and Dr. Kay Macleod (Vice Chair, Ben May Department of Cancer Research).

In this enlightening episode of Cancer Luminaries Season 2, host Camilla Frost-Brewer is joined by UChicago’s oncology luminaries, Dr. Brandon Pierce and Dr. Marcia Tan, for a deep dive into the world of cancer prevention, environmental risk, and the innovative strategies that are shaping the future of cancer care.
Together, they explore:
What drives their passion for cancer research, from family legacies and personal experiences to scientific curiosity.
How their labs and community programs are advancing cancer research—whether by unraveling genetic susceptibility to environmental carcinogens like arsenic, or by empowering underserved groups through tobacco cessation and behavioral interventions.
The critical importance of access: Dr. Tan discusses “gold standard” treatments for tobacco cessation and highlights resources like Courage to Quit at UChicago Medicine and the Illinois Tobacco Quitline.
Dr. Pierce explains groundbreaking interdisciplinary research on arsenic exposure in Bangladesh, genetic risk factors, and the work of key collaborators at UChicago.
The evolving role of environmental and lifestyle factors in cancer prevention, including large-scale cohort studies, exposomic technologies, and innovative policy approaches, both locally and globally.
How UChicago’s cancer program is addressing health disparities through outreach and research that bridges macro data and micro lived experiences—ensuring interventions are shaped with, and for, the community.
Looking forward, our guests share their excitement for:
Advances in exposomics, mutation signature analysis, and polygenic risk scores for personalized cancer risk prediction and early detection.
The rising role of community health workers and holistic support models for cancer prevention, including responses to new challenges like vaping.
The upcoming Cancer Pavilion at UChicago—featuring dedicated community spaces, patient navigation, survivorship resources, and expanded outreach aimed at making care accessible and personal.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the people, ideas, and collaborations pioneering a future where cancer is preventable, disparities are erased, and every patient has a supportive path to survivorship.
Resources Mentioned:
Courage to Quit (UChicago Medicine)
Illinois Tobacco Quitline

Welcome to the second season of Cancer Luminaries, the show where we talk to UChicago oncology leaders who are driving innovation, shaping patient care, and envisioning a future free of cancer. In this episode, host Camilla Frost-Brewer sits down with Drs. Everett Vokes and Mitchell Posner, two of UChicago's distinguished oncology leaders, to discuss UChicago's rich legacy of cancer research and care that has been defined by ground-breaking discoveries, transformative leadership, and a commitment to pushing the field forward. This first episode of Season 2 reflects on that history and explores how it continues to shape today's innovations, including the New Cancer Pavilion, which is set to open in 2027.
 
To learn more about UChicago's legacy in cancer research, please visit https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/cancer/about-us/legacy.

In this episode, host Camilla Frost-Brewer interviews Alumni Star Tina Shih, PhD, Professor of Health Economics and Director of the Program in Cancer Health Economics Research at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Shih talks about how health economics can tackle various issues across the entire cancer care continuum, from prevention to treatment to survivorship. As newer treatments are developed, health economists like Dr. Shih are analyzing the financial burden on patients and ways to make cancer care more affordable. She also reflects on taking on leadership roles at different stages of her career.
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In this special episode, Camilla Frost-Brewer held a fireside conversation with two former directors and one current director to learn what it is like to lead a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and how they approached the opportunities and challenges of the role. Medical oncologist Richard L. Schilsky, MD, Director from 1991 to 1999, drove initiatives to modernize and organize the Cancer Center. Cancer geneticist and cancer biologist Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, Director from 2004 to 2021, not only helped the Cancer Center achieve Comprehensive status, but she strengthened our programs in population research and community research. Physician-scientist Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD, Director since 2021, is leveraging resources, advanced technologies and partnerships from across the University network to take a pipeline of discoveries to the clinic where they can make an immediate impact. Together, they reflected on what is unique about the intellectual environment at the University of Chicago and predicted where cancer research is going next.

Host Camilla Frost-Brewer has a conversation with Alumni Star Angela Bradbury, MD, Associate Professor of  Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center. Dr. Bradbury is a medical oncologist with specialized training in clinical cancer genetics, cancer prevention and medical ethics. Her research focuses on integrating genetic medicine into the clinic to reduce the burden of cancer and improve the health of individuals and families. In 2012, she started the Penn Telegenetics Program based on research evaluating remote phone and real-time services for cancer genetic counseling and testing. In this episode, she explains how technology has enable greater access to genetic counseling for people in the community. She also repeats the career advice that keeps her grounded, including the importance of saying “no” to avoid overextending yourself.
 
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Host Camilla Frost-Brewer gets to know Alumni Star and cancer immunologist Stefani Spranger, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology at the Koch Institute for Integrative Biology at MIT. Dr. Spranger studies how the body’s immune system interacts with growing tumors to harness the immune response to fight cancer. In this episode, she recounts how a mind-blowing paper led her to a career in cancer immunology and the advantages of being an immunologist surrounded by cancer biologists and engineers. She also talks about the collaborative nature of scientific research in the United States, the joy of seeing a mentee blossom, and learning to trust that you are doing enough at home and at work.

Host Camilla Frost-Brewer spends time with Alumni Star and translational cancer researcher Huiping Liu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Liu leads a cross-disciplinary team that uses advanced technologies to investigate the root causes of cancer. In this episode, she shares how a favorite teacher’s cancer diagnosis launched her personal mission to cure cancer. She also shares her tips for cultivating a lab culture that prioritizes passion, collaboration, innovation and compassion and maintaining a positive attitude through all problem-solving.
 
 
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Camilla Frost-Brewer is joined by Alumni Star and visionary translational researcher, Dr. Suzanne Conzen, who discovered the role of the stress hormone receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, in driving particularly aggressive breast cancers. Dr. Conzen, who is the Chief of the Hematology and Oncology Division at UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center in Dallas, reflects on her time at UChicago where her work on nuclear hormone receptors led to improvements in cancer care—especially for underserved populations disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer. She describes her encounters with serendipity and the value of looking at a problem from the micro to the macro levels. 
Access the full transcript here. This transcript for this episode was prepared by a transcription service and edited by an individual. This version may not be in its final form and may be updated.
 
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