The Dolan lab is focused on improving the quality of life of cancer patients through the identification of genetic variants associated with risk for severe and persistent toxicities following chemotherapy (i.e. peripheral neuropathy, ototoxicity, tinnitus), particularly in children and young adults whose adverse sequelae could persist throughout their lifetimes. To this end, they perform clinical genome wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genetic variants associated with toxicity in patients following chemotherapy and determine whether there is shared genetic architecture with idiopathic forms of these traits. They develop preclinical models to elucidate the biochemical and cellular impact of genes identified in clinical GWAS of chemotherapeutic toxicity. Their approach integrates multiple large datasets including: genetic variation, gene expression, miRNA, modified cytosine, transcription factor levels and chemotherapeutic induced pharmacologic traits. Her laboratory made the seminal observation that chemotherapeutic-induced cytotoxicity is a heritable trait and that pharmacologic SNPs, identified through GWAS, are enriched in expression quantitative trait loci. Her laboratory has developed an induced pluripotent stem cell derived neuronal cell model to evaluate genes contributing to chemotherapeutic-induced neuropathy, a common adverse event of multiple chemotherapeutic agents. The models they are developing will have broad applicability for gaining insight on druggable targets to treat or prevent this devastating side effect of chemotherapy and providing an understanding of the genetic components and genes contributing to severe toxicity. Her laboratory is using machine learning to build predictive models for identifying patients at greatest risk for severe toxicities.
Pennsylvania College of Medicine
Hershey, PA
Post Doc - Biochemical Pharmacology
1986
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
PHD - Medicinal Chemistry
1983
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
BS - Chemistry
1979
A National Study Among Diverse US Populations of Exposure to Prescription Medications with Evidence-Based Pharmacogenomic Information.
A National Study Among Diverse US Populations of Exposure to Prescription Medications with Evidence-Based Pharmacogenomic Information. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2025 Jun; 117(6):1793-1802.
PMID: 40033674
Comparison of GWAS results between de novo tinnitus and cancer treatment-related tinnitus suggests distinctive roles for genetic risk factors.
Comparison of GWAS results between de novo tinnitus and cancer treatment-related tinnitus suggests distinctive roles for genetic risk factors. Sci Rep. 2024 11 14; 14(1):27952.
PMID: 39543288
Comprehensive Audiologic Analyses After Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy.
Comprehensive Audiologic Analyses After Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy. JAMA Oncol. 2024 Jul 01; 10(7):912-922.
PMID: 38842797
Impact of pain and adverse health outcomes on long-term US testicular cancer survivors.
Impact of pain and adverse health outcomes on long-term US testicular cancer survivors. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2024 Mar 07; 116(3):455-467.
PMID: 37966940
The Gene Ontology knowledgebase in 2023.
The Gene Ontology knowledgebase in 2023. Genetics. 2023 05 04; 224(1).
PMID: 36866529
Prevalence and risk factors for ototoxicity after cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
Prevalence and risk factors for ototoxicity after cisplatin-based chemotherapy. J Cancer Surviv. 2023 02; 17(1):27-39.
PMID: 36637632
Patient-Reported Functional Impairment Due to Hearing Loss and Tinnitus After Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy.
Patient-Reported Functional Impairment Due to Hearing Loss and Tinnitus After Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2023 04 20; 41(12):2211-2226.
PMID: 36626694
Comprehensive association analysis of speech recognition thresholds after cisplatin-based chemotherapy in survivors of adult-onset cancer.
Comprehensive association analysis of speech recognition thresholds after cisplatin-based chemotherapy in survivors of adult-onset cancer. Cancer Med. 2023 02; 12(3):2999-3012.
PMID: 36097363
Chicago EYES on Cancer: Fostering Diversity in Biomedicine through Cancer Research Training for Students and Teachers.
Chicago EYES on Cancer: Fostering Diversity in Biomedicine through Cancer Research Training for Students and Teachers. J STEM Outreach. 2022; 5(2).
PMID: 36571071
Ototoxicity After Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy: Factors Associated With Discrepancies Between Patient-Reported Outcomes and Audiometric Assessments.
Ototoxicity After Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy: Factors Associated With Discrepancies Between Patient-Reported Outcomes and Audiometric Assessments. Ear Hear. 2022 May/Jun; 43(3):794-807.
PMID: 35067571
Margaret L. Kripke Legend Award
MD Anderson
2024
Comprehensive Cancer Center Distinguished Service Award
University of Chicago
2024
Department of Medicine Distinguished Service Award
University of Chicago
2023
Biological Sciences Division Distinguished Leader in Diversity and Inclusion
University of Chicago
2021
Comprehensive Cancer Center Women’s Board Scholar
University of Chicago
2019
Biological Sciences Division Distinguished Educator/Mentor
University of Chicago
2016
Distinguished Women Scholars Award
Purdue University
2011
School of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Award
Purdue University
2010
Distinguished Alumni Award
University of Dayton
2006
Ambassador of Hope
American Cancer Society
2006
Presidential Award for Volunteer Contributions to Research
American Cancer Society, IL Division
2005