The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) named CCIL member Sara Pedron Haba to its Women in Cancer Research (WICR) Council for a three-year term. The council comprises 13 women and advises the AACR on issues facing female researchers.
“It is a great privilege to be included among this special group of women cancer researchers, leaders in their fields, who share the passion and commitment of supporting the career advancement of women in STEMM. It is an honor to contribute to the WICR efforts by increasing the visibility of scientific achievements by women and mentoring future cancer scientists and engineers,” said Pedron Haba. “Women remain widely underrepresented in science and engineering. The increased visibility of their achievements will incrementally decrease stereotype barriers associated with STEMM researchers. The involvement of women role models increases the sense of belonging to STEMM and stimulate young scientist and engineers to put effort in that field they are passionate about and reinforce them to continue, succeed and be fairly compensated and valued.”
Pedron Haba is a research assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, a Health Innovation Professor in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, and affiliated faculty of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.
“Despite the multiple advances in diagnosis and cancer biology, multiple tumors remain challenging to treat. The dynamic interactions of the tumor cells with the microenvironment are critical to support cancer progression and resist therapeutic interventions. I am very interested in comprehending these cross-talks,” said Pedron Haba about what motivates her to continue her research.
To learn more about the WICR Council, click here.
Written by Jessica Clegg, CCIL Communications