"Implementing cancer prevention: from research to policy"
Program Director in Global Oncology at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Day and Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Time: 9:00AM to 10:00AM
Location: HST 101
Abstract:
The field of cancer prevention draws on a broad set of disciplines, including bioengineering and public health, to lower the risk of developing cancer. In this seminar, Dr. Kathryn Kundrod will describe her work ranging from developing point-of-care HPV tests for cervical cancer prevention through advancing federal cancer prevention policy. Through each topic, Dr. Kundrod will share perspectives on the role of bioengineering in interdisciplinary public health research, programs, and policy.
Personal Bio:
Kathryn Kundrod, PhD, MPH is a Program Director in Global Oncology at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she carries out grant administration, project management, and policy to support capacity building for cancer prevention and care. Previously, Dr. Kundrod served as Assistant Director for Cancer Prevention Policy within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In this role, she focused on cancer prevention and early detection policy, along with federal agency strategy, for the Biden Cancer Moonshot. As a Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Kundrod investigated HPV detection methods to improve access to cervical cancer screening. Kathryn earned her PhD in bioengineering from Rice University, where she developed point-of-care HPV tests, her MPH in global health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and her BS in bioengineering from Lehigh University, where she began her research training in point-of-care diagnostics under the mentorship of Dr. Xuanhong Cheng.