SUMMARY
Folakemi T. Odedina, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized cancer researcher and academic leader. She has led global research programs for decades, primarily funded by the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Defense. This research focuses on developing cost-effective, community-based behavioral intervention programs to address prostate cancer in Black males.
Her research, education, training and community outreach activities have exclusively focused on addressing health disparities in racial and ethnic minority and underserved communities. As a behavioral scientist, she conducts behavioral research across the translational continuum to test behavioral models, confirm who will benefit from behavioral interventions and examine how to deliver interventions in all settings.
Dr. Odedina's research program has developed and validated multiple behavioral models that include multilevel assessment of barriers and facilitators for the uptake of interventions, tested and adapted interventions that include behavioral clinical trials, and worked closely with community health workers to implement health intervention programs in diverse community settings worldwide.
She has also been a leader in training future scientists whose backgrounds are underrepresented in biomedical research.
Focus areas
- Transatlantic roots of prostate cancer disparities in Black men.
- Prostate cancer care and survivorship model for Black men.
- Vaccine diversity.
- Global health equity.
- Global oncology research.
- Diversity in clinical trials.
Significance to patient care
By developing cost-effective, community-based behavioral trials to address prostate cancer in Black men worldwide, Dr. Odedina will improve prostate health across the cancer care continuum, including risk reduction, prevention, screening, timely detection, treatment and survivorship to improve economic, clinical and humanistic outcomes.
In addition, Dr. Odedina will work with internal and external stakeholders to advance strategic initiatives to promote health equity and reduce health disparities.
Professional highlights
- Member, Minorities in Cancer Research Council, American Association for Cancer Research, 2020-2023.
- Global Health Equity Initiatives, Center for Health Equity and Community Engagement Research, Mayo Clinic:
- Director, 2021-present
- Florida associate director, 2021-present
- African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer:
- Chair, research committee, 2020-present.
- Williams Award for Innovation in Cancer Care in Africa, 2017.
- Co-director, African Clinical Trials Consortium, 2019-present.
- Member, advisory team, Prostate Cancer Disparities Advisory Group, American Cancer Society, 2019-present.
- Director, Research Core, Florida Health Equity Research Institute, 2013-present.
- Principal investigator and founder, Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium, National Cancer Institute, 2005-present.
- Living Legend Award for innovations with health/economic impact, Africa Clinical Trial Summit, 2017.
- Inspiring Women in STEM Award, Insight into Diversity, 2016.