Dr. Lalita Shevde-Samant is Professor in the Department of Pathology and and the Associate Director of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer at UAB.
Following a Ph.D. in Cancer Immunology at the Cancer Research Institute, University of Bombay (India), Dr. Shevde-Samant completed her postdoctoral training in the area of cancer metastasis at the Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University. She was on the faculty at the University of South Alabama before being recruited to UAB in the Department of Pathology in 2012.
Research Program leadership: Since 2004, her lab has been continuously funded to interrogate dynamics of interactions between breast tumor cells and their microenvironment. Investigations led by her group have uncovered a novel role of Hedgehog signaling in regulating tumor cell resistance to chemotherapeutics and the tumor microclimate; more recently having identified that Hedgehog activity sculpts the immune portfolio of breast tumors. She has a well-documented record of accomplishments, with 108 peer-reviewed research publications and book chapters. These discoveries have been enabled with intramural support and extramural funding from the NCI and the Department of Defense.
Leadership in Cancer Research Training, Education, and Career Enhancement: Dr. Shevde-Samant is the Associate Director of O’Neal Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer at UAB. This role leverages her experience (14+ years) in the leadership of the Cancer Biology Ph.D. program at two institutions. She continues to serve in this capacity, while also playing an important role in the curriculum management and admissions process. She has trained and provided mentorship at all levels – undergraduate students, graduate students, MD, PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, and early-stage investigators. Her trainees honored her with the UAB Graduate Dean’s mentoring Award. Dr. Shevde-Samant is the MPI of the NCI R25 YES Grant “Roadmap for America’s Cancer Explorers for the 21st Century (RACE21)” to build an innovative and effective pipeline to cancer research careers, especially for students underrepresented in cancer research. Dr. Shevde-Samant is an elected Board member of Cancer Biology Training Consortium (CABTRAC), the national consortium that interfaces with institutions in the United States and the NCI’s Cancer Training Branch to develop innovative and multidisciplinary training mechanisms needed to produce the highest quality cancer scientists. This underscores national recognition of her leadership in cancer education and training and positioning her to engage in discussions with the NCI and other Cancer Centers . In 2011 Dr. Shevde-Samant initiated an organized development of a program in the Metastasis Research Society (MRS) to train and mentor the next generation of metastasis investigators. This legacy continues even 10 years after the establishment of the Early Career Ambassadors of Metastasis Research (ECAM) program and fills a much-needed gap to foster the development of young investigators in the area of metastasis research.
Importantly, Dr. Shevde-Samant is dedicated to education and career development of diverse trainees and junior faculty. She enjoys mentoring trainees and junior faculty. She is of the opinion that broadening an inclusive scientific workforce is essential to successful interdisciplinary research.
