New research collaboration between Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences Department and Pharmacology & Cancer Biology teams:
Trudy Oliver, PhD, studies a type of cancer that has a 5-year overall survival rate of just 7%. Its biological drivers are different from most other cancers, so it’s harder to develop targeted treatments. On top of that, research into this tumor is under-funded.
Oliver, professor of pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University School of Medicine, investigates small cell lung cancer, which is almost always linked to cigarette smoking. "Some people think 'Oh, you smoked. You got what you deserved.’ Why do we need to put money into this?’” she said.