Thomas O'Halloran, PhD, Named Associate Director for Basic Sciences at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

Thomas V. O'Halloran, PhD, widely known for his interdisciplinary research program which involves chemical synthesis, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology, has been named Associate Director for Basic Sciences at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. He is currently the Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor in the Department of Chemistry and in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology at Northwestern and serves as Director of the new Chemistry of Life Processes Institute at Northwestern.

Dr. O'Halloran replaces Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD. the Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a groundbreaking leader in fertility research, who steps down to focus on her roles as Executive Director of the Institute for Women's Health Research and Chief of the newly created Division of Fertility Preservation. Dr Woodruff is Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology, Weinberg School of Arts and Sciences. Additionally, she serves as the Director of the Center for Reproductive Research and Principle Investigator of the newly funded Oncofertility Consortium grant, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap for Medical Research "Teresa's research has the potential to impact the lives of many women and families," said the Cancer Center's Director, Steven T. Rosen, MD. "Her enthusiasm and vision ensure the continued evolution of fertility-preserving options for cancer patients."

Dr. O'Halloran's research interests center on the regulatory biology and chemistry of transition metal receptors involved homeostasis and oxidative stress pathways. His work focuses on the intracellular chemistry of elements essential for growth and proliferation, (ie zinc, copper and iron), nanoscale drug delivery mechanisms and on the mechanisms of clinically important anticancer agents that are based on arsenic, molybdenum and platinum chemistry. His discoveries have established the function and structures two new classes of soluble receptors: metalloregulatory proteins which govern metal responsive gene expression and metallochaperone proteins which control intracellular trafficking pathways. He is currently a PI on two RO1 NIH grants from the National Institute for General Medical Sciences and a project in the Cancer Center for Nanotechnology Excellence grant from the National Cancer Institute. His research has also been funded by NASA, NSF, ONR, the ALS Association, the Boughton Trust and the Searle Scholars Program of the Chicago Community Trust. He has served in leadership positions within the Robert H Lurie Cancer Center since 1999.

Professor O'Halloran's scientific recognitions include the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award (1987- 92), National Searle Scholars Award (1987-90), an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (1991-93); the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Teacher-Scholar Award (1993-95); and the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Schering-Plough Scientific Achievement Award (1996). He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow. Professor O'Halloran received a MERIT award from the National Institutes of Health (2001-2010).

The Associate Director for Basic Sciences 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 five basic science research programs, and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and inter-programmatic interactions. The Associate Director 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. In addition, this position is responsible for directing the development and operation of the Cancer Center basic research laboratory facility on the Evanston Campus in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. "It gives me great pleasure to announce Tom O'Halloran's new role," said Dr. Rosen. "He is an exceptionally talented scientist who will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team."

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