Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence Focused on Therapy Response

2009 Annual CCNE-TR Symposium

Anna D. Barker, Ph.D.
Deputy Director of National Cancer Institute &
Deputy Director for Strategic Scientific Initiatives

Dr. Barker serves as the Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In this role she plans and coordinates the implementation of integrative, multi-disciplinary and multi-sector program to accelerate the development and translation of new knowledge and advanced technologies into effective interventions to prevent, detect and treat cancer. Under her leadership, the NCI has recently launched programs in bioinformatics and nanotechnology and is currently developing initiatives in proteomics and biospecimens to enable cancer research. Dr. Barker completed her Ph.D. at the Ohio State University, where she trained in immunology and microbiology. Her research interests include experimental therapeutics, tumor immunology, and free-radical biochemistry in cancer etiology, prevention and treatment.

Dr. Barker has a long history in research and the leadership and management of research and development, technology transfer and product commercialization in the non-profit and private sectors. Prior to entering the biotechnology sector, she was a senior executive at Battelle Memorial Institute for 18 years where she developed and led a large group of scientists and technical staff working in areas such as drug discovery and development, pharmacology and biotechnology, including several NCI sponsored research programs. In the private sector she co-founded and served as the CEO of a public biotechnology company, focused in therapeutics discovery and development; and subsequently founded and served as the CEO of a private company dedicated to the transfer and deployment of technologies to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

She is a member of the Steering Committee of C-Change and Chairperson of the C-Change Cancer Research Team. She is a member of the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program Integration Panel, and a past chairperson of the BCRP Integration Panel. Dr. Barker has served in several capacities for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), including the Board of Directors and chairperson of the Public Science Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee; and the NCI, including membership on the Board of Scientific Counselors for the Division of Cancer Etiology and chairperson of the Cancer Center Support Review Study Section. Dr. Barker has received a number of awards for her contributions to research, cancer patients, professional and advocacy organizations and the ongoing national effort to prevent and cure cancer, including a named fellowship from the AACR.

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