Kathleen O’Connor, PhD, associate director of cancer education and mentoring at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, has been elected president-elect of the Cancer Biology Training Consortium (CABTRAC) for 2026.
Dr. O’Connor will serve as CABTRAC’s president-elect in 2026 before assuming the role of president in 2027. The position carries a three-year commitment that includes serving as past president in 2028. O’Connor has served on CABTRAC’s Board of Directors since 2021.
CABTRAC is a national nonprofit organization that works with more than 80 institutions across the U.S. to train the next generation of cancer researchers. The consortium was established in 2005 and partners with the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) cancer training branch. CABTRAC hosts an annual retreat, which is open to all members and their trainees to network and discuss current topics affecting the cancer research training community.
Dr. O’Connor is a professor in the UK College of Medicine Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. At Markey, she co-directs two NCI T32 training programs: the Interdisciplinary Research Training in Cancer Biology and Oncology Research Training for Surgeon-Scientists. She also directs the Markey STRONG Post-baccalaureate Fellows Program, the Markey STRONG Scholars Program, Markey’s American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant, and the Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination component for Markey’s Cancer Center Support Grant.
Dr. O’Connor’s research focuses on understanding how cancer cells spread to other parts of the body. Her lab studies a specific protein called integrin α6β4 and its role in breast, colon and pancreatic cancers.
CABTRAC brings together individuals and institutions dedicated to training cancer researchers. The organization aims to reduce cancer deaths through a collaborative network that shares the goal of improving graduate, medical and postdoctoral training programs in cancer biology.