Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD

Dr. Pietenpol earned her Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Vanderbilt in 1990, and after a fellowship at Johns Hopkins she returned for a faculty position in 1994, quickly establishing herself by publishing groundbreaking research into the pathophysiology and molecular biology of breast cancer, among other things. 

Because of the important discoveries she was continuing to make in the field of cancer research and for numerous other reasons, in 2008 she was the clear choice to become the director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. 

During her 15 years in that role, the Cancer Center flourished, and she launched multiple strategic initiatives advancing personalized cancer medicine, cancer informatics, cancer drug discovery, genome maintenance and cancer survivorship programs. 

In 2016, Dr. Pietenpol took on the additional role of Executive Vice President for Research and in 2022 became Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer, overseeing and supporting the basic science programs in clinical departments, centers and institutes, and leading Vanderbilt’s scientific, technological and research strategy and operations. 

Her national leadership and recognitions include serving a six-year term on the National Cancer Advisory Board and being elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012, and of the American Association for Cancer Research Academy in 2022. She was recognized at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with one of its highest honors, the Science of Oncology Award. This award is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to basic or translational research in cancer.