Baylor’s Plon To Give 2021 Trent Lecture

The 2021 Jeffrey M. Trent Lecture in Cancer Research will be held virtually on Thursday, Dec. 9 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET. 

Dr. Sharon E. Plon, professor in the departments of pediatrics/hematology-oncology, molecular and human genetics at the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine, will speak about “Evolution of Germline Cancer Genomics from Rare Disorders to Precision Oncology Trials.”

Plon is a medical geneticist with a longstanding focus on cancer genetics and clinical genomics, using translational research on mechanisms of pediatric cancer through large collaborative projects. She worked on a landmark study of the association of birth defects and childhood cancer and is using whole genome sequencing of these unique patients to identify novel cancer susceptibility genes. 

Plon has served on the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research and the board of directors of the American Society of Human Genetics. 

Since 2013, Plon has served as a principal investigator of the Clinical Genome (ClinGen) Resource and chairs the ClinGen hereditary cancer group.

Trent was NHGRI’s founding scientific director. In recognition of his significant contributions to the NIH research environment, NHGRI established the annual lecture in his name in 2003. The talk is given by a prominent cancer researcher who brings the kind of energy, creativity and enthusiasm to cancer research that Trent has exemplified throughout his career.

To register for the lecture, visit www.genome.gov/event-calendar/Jeffrey-Trent-Lectureship-in-Cancer-Research.