Career Background
Dr. Anna Gottschlich (PhD, MPH), assistant professor of oncology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and a member of the Global Health Research Collaborative, has received a five-year career development award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The award provides support and protected time to advance knowledge in molecular epidemiology and bioinformatics, while studying how social and molecular factors intersect to influence survival among women with endometrial cancer.
“This is a career development award that provides support and protected time to increase my knowledge of molecular epidemiologic and bioinformatics methodology. Additionally, I will be studying the intersection of social and molecular factors associated with survival among a cohort of women with endometrial cancer,” Dr. Gottschlich said.
Investigating Disparities in Cancer Outcomes
Dr. Gottschlich’s research focuses on uncovering why some populations of women with endometrial cancer experience poorer outcomes than others, using differences that are not fully explained by known social or biological factors.
By studying the intersection of social and molecular factors, Dr. Gottschlish hopes to improve understanding of why we see different outcomes for some cancer populations, which will then inform novel interventions to improve health for all cancer patients and survivors. Altogether, the study will explore how chronic stress and molecular subtypes of endometrial cancer may interact to influence survival, providing a basis for future R01-level projects.
Mentorship and Collaboration
Mentorship is central to Dr. Gottschlich’s work, and she draws on her passion for teaching to inspire trainees and junior faculty—a passion that dates back to her time as a high school math teacher. As an investigator she recollects on how “Trainees have such great ideas, and being able to collaborate with them at Wayne State and through GHRC continues to give [her] new insight into how to approach [her] research and which questions are most important to ask,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Dr. Gottschlich plans to use this award not only to gain knowledge but also to develop preliminary data that will support future large-scale studies.
“My hope is that by the end of this grant, I’ll be prepared to submit a competitive R01-level project,” which is a prestigious award granted by NIH for scientists to mark their transition from a mentored to an independent researcher.
For early-career researchers, she offers this advice: “Find mentors, collaborators, and trainees that you enjoy working with. It can be lonely and challenging to try to do it on your own, but it’s a lot of fun to form ideas and projects with people you enjoy spending time with.”
Overall, Dr. Gottschlich’s work represents a critical step toward understanding the complex interplay of social and molecular factors in cancer survival. By combining research with mentorship and collaboration, she is not only advancing the field of cancer epidemiology, and aiding the population of Detroit, but also nurturing the next generation of scientists. Her efforts at Wayne State and through GHRC exemplify how science, training, and community engagement can work together to improve health outcomes and promote equity in cancer care.