CRI CEO and Director of Scientific Affairs Dr. Jill O’Donnell-Tormey on Immunotherapy and Her Tenure

NEW YORK – Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, PhD, CEO and director of scientific affairs at the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), recently sat down with Inside Precision Medicine to discuss a wide variety of topics – her career at CRI, the organization’s progress in the last 70 years, and the current state of immunotherapy, among others. 

Dr. O’Donnell-Tormey began the interview by discussing CRI’s robust, 70-year history at the forefront of cancer immunotherapy research. Shortly thereafter, she transitioned to talking about her tenure as the CEO of CRI for 30 years, and how the organization has, in her words, kept the field of cancer immunotherapy research alive. She expressed pride in how CRI has trained multiple generations of immunologists. 

Dr. O’Donnell-Tormey discussed the critical importance of checkpoint blockades to the field of cancer immunotherapy research and emphasized that cancer immunotherapy is a multifaceted discipline, and how important it is to utilize various immunotherapies along with other standard therapies like chemotherapy or radiation to provide precise treatment to patients.  

Additionally, she elaborated on the importance of the multiple clinical trials that CRI is involved with, specifically regarding pancreatic and lung cancers. Further, Dr. O’Donnell-Tormey explained that CRI’s Scientific Advisory Council helps facilitate the organization’s academic partnerships through open access to the application process. 

We hope you find Dr. O’Donnell-Tormey’s interview to be equally informative and interesting. To read it in full, visit Inside Precision Medicine.