Nita Maihle, Ph.D., receives Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Award
Professor of medicine
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Mayo Clinic in Minnesota: Professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, 1999–2003; associate director for basic research, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1994–1998; consultant, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1992–2003; founding director, Tumor Biology Graduate and Postgraduate Training Program, 1992–2003; associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, 1992–1998; program director, Growth Factors and Cancer Research Program, 1989–1995; assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, 1989–1991; senior associate consultant, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1989–1991
Fellowships: Tumor virology/tumor biology, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; Molecular biology/retrovirology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
Postgraduate: Ph.D., biomedical sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
Undergraduate: Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Pioneer of translational cancer research and biomedical research training
When Nita Maihle, Ph.D. (BMB ’89), began her career, the field of cancer biology was largely limited to model systems. She helped to change that — breaking the mold by researching human tissues and tumors.
In doing so, she became a national leader and visionary pioneer in the field of translational cancer research, working to improve cancer detection, prevention and treatment, particularly in cancers that affect women. She simultaneously recognized the need to revolutionize the way young scientists and physicians were educated and founded a groundbreaking interdisciplinary training program in tumor biology at Mayo Clinic.
Early on, Dr. Maihle recognized the potential of serum biomarkers to be used as both prognostic and predictive biomarkers in cancer patients, and her biomarker studies set the stage for today’s era of individualized medicine. She is an internationally recognized expert in the study of epidermal growth factor receptors, and significantly advanced the understanding of the biology of breast, ovarian and other gynecologic cancers. Her work contributed to the development of cutting-edge cancer drugs such as trastuzumab and cetuximab.
As associate director of Mayo’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, she worked to position Mayo at the forefront of translational cancer research. She also served as the founding co-director of the Women’s Cancer Program, which today serves as a template for other interdisciplinary cancer programs throughout the country.
She continued to use her leadership skills at various national organizations such as the American Association for Cancer Research, the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, as well as at several academic medical centers, including Yale School of Medicine.
Her passion for redesigning biomedical research training to provide opportunities for women and other populations underrepresented in the sciences led to her most recent leadership roles at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University. She also played a key role in establishing the Department of Defense-sponsored Ovarian Cancer Academy — a virtual career development and research training forum for early-career investigators — for which she served as an inaugural dean.
A recipient of approximately $30 million in past direct funding, she is regularly published in top-tier biomedical research journals, with over 130 publications. In collaboration with “disruptive innovation” guru Clayton Christensen, she worked to apply the lens of disruptive innovation to oncology — in particular, the development of companion diagnostics for biologically-targeted therapeutics. She has 10 patents in her name and is a cofounder and board member for several biotechnology companies.
The Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Award was established in 1981 by the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees to acknowledge and show appreciation for the exceptional contributions of Mayo alumni to the field of medicine, including medical practice, research, education, and administration. Individuals receiving this award are recognized nationally — and often internationally — in their fields. Read about the other 2024 recipients here.