Dr. Tiki Hayes, assistant professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Lung Cancer Research Foundation Minority Career Development Award in Lung Cancer and the Cynthia M. Page Merit Award for Innovation in Lung Cancer Research.
The Minority Career Development award honors physicians and scientists whose work shows profound promise in advancing lung cancer research and promotes greater representation of underrepresented groups in the lung cancer research workforce. The Cynthia M. Page Merit Award recognizes the exceptional scientific merit and innovation of Hayes’ research, which pushes the boundaries of lung cancer studies through creative and forward-thinking approaches.
The two-year, $150,000 awards support Dr. Hayes’ efforts to develop new strategies to combat drug resistance in EGFR-mutant lung cancers. Her team is focused on improving the diversity of lab-grown cell models and uncovering why certain mutations in these cancers lead to resistance against tyrosine kinase inhibitors, a widely used targeted therapy. Although this treatment is a standard option, many patients ultimately experience resistance, underscoring the need for new treatments.
“I am truly honored to receive these awards,” said Hayes, who is also a member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. “With this support, my team and I are hopeful that we will develop innovative models and tools to better understand the underlying biology of EGFR-mutant lung cancers, paving the way to overcome drug resistance in these patients.”
