Dr. Coussens is Professor and Chair of the Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology at Oregon Health & Sciences University where she holds the Hildegard Lamfrom Endowed Chair in Basic Science.  She has served the Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU as Associate Director of Basic Science, Deputy Director of Basic & Translational Research, and Interim Director.

Dr. Coussens’ research focuses on dissecting the roles of normal immune cells in regulating various facets of solid tumor development, identifying leukocyte activities that are co-opted by early tumors to support ongoing cancer development, and in understanding the role leukocytes play in regulating responses to cytotoxic, targeted and immune-based therapies. Utilizing mouse models of mesothelioma, cutaneous, head and neck, pancreas and mammary carcinoma, her research identified critical immune-regulated pathways for therapeutic targeting that have been translated in proof-of-concept clinical trials in metastatic triple negative breast cancer, pancreas cancer, and head & neck squamous cancer.

In recognition of her research contributions for revealing underlying mechanisms of cancer development, Dr. Coussens’ has been acknowledged with multiple awards in recognition of her scientific contributions including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Gertrude B. Elion Award (2001), AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lectureship (2012), 13^th Rosalind E. Franklin Award from the National Cancer Institute (2015), a Doctor in Medicine (honoris causa) from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina (2018), 12^th AACR-Princess Takamatsu Memorial Lectureship (2018), European Academy of Tumor Immunology Career Award (2018), Susan G. Komen Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science (2018), elected Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS; 2018), Fellow of the AACR Academy (2019), Fellow of the Academy of ImmunoOncology (SITC; 2022), awarded the 2023 Margaret L. Kripke Legend Award for advocacy and promotion of women in academic medicine and science, named a Heroine of Public Health by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2024), and awarded the Metastasis Research Society Women in Science Achievement Award (2026). She was elected AACR President (2022-2023) and inducted into the National Academy of Sciences (2023) and National Academy of Medicine (2024).