Kimberly Blackwell, MD
KIMBERLY BLACKWELL, MD, one of the nation’s leading breast cancer researchers, will join Lilly Oncology as Vice President of Early Phase Development and Immuno-oncology as of March 12, 2018. Dr. Blackwell is currently Professor of Medicine and Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Duke University Medical Center. She also serves as Co-Director of the Duke Women’s Cancer Program, Associate Director for Strategic Relations for the Duke Cancer Institute, Research Scholar for Susan G. Komen, and Senior Strategist for the Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program.
“We are pleased and honored to welcome Dr. Blackwell to Lilly,” said Sue Mahony, PhD, Senior Vice President and President of Lilly Oncology. “She is highly regarded for her leadership in cancer research, especially metastatic breast cancer, where she has led programs that resulted in numerous groundbreaking regulatory approvals in the oncology sector. Furthermore, she has been on the forefront of research in oncology vaccines, immuno-oncology, and biosimilars, giving her the unique expertise that will be pivotal in helping us continue to develop and advance novel treatments for people living with cancer.”
Research Interests and Awards
A GRADUATE OF Mayo Clinic Medical School, Dr. Blackwell has played a major role in developing therapies that represent revolutionary nonchemotherapy based approaches for treating breast cancer. Her clinical and research interests include various topics in breast cancer, including endocrine therapy, novel HER2 therapies, breast cancer vaccines, and other experimental therapeutics.
She has studied and served as the principal investigator on studies that led to regulatory approval of four cancer agents, including the first biosimilar treatment for cancer in the United States. Due to her leadership, she has received numerous awards, including the Duke University Distinguished Alumni in 2015 and TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2013.
Additionally, Dr. Blackwell is a recipient of the Young Investigator Award in breast cancer from the National Cancer Institute Specialized Program of Research Excellence and the Joseph Greenfield Award for Mentorship of Clinical Research. ■
