Dr. Jennifer Richer, Professor with tenure, Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, has studied steroid hormone receptor action in breast cancer for over 25 years. Translational studies from her lab led to two completed clinical trials targeting the androgen receptor in primary and metastatic breast cancer with de novo or acquired resistance to estrogen receptor-directed endocrine therapy. The Richer lab also discovered a mechanism by which carcinomas co-opt use of immune-suppressive factors typically made by trophoblasts to ensure fetal tolerance during pregnancy.

Dr. Richer served 5 years as co-leader of the University of Colorado Cancer Center (UCCC) Tumor Host Interactions Program and built COE-CARES, a Community Advisors Outreach and Engagement patient advocate group, before stepping down from that position. She currently serves on the UCCC Internal Advisory Board. Her national service includes serving as a full member of the NIH NCI Tumor Cell Biology study section and many years of service on numerous additional NIH, DOD, AACR and other grant review panels. Richer was the Basic Science Chair for The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting 2021 and Co-chair of the 2016 Keystone Symposium on Nuclear Hormone Receptors and now sits on the Keystone Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Richer is passionate about graduate training in biomedical sciences. She served as principal investigator of the University of Colorado’s American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant for junior faculty and pathway summer programs for students for many years. Trainees in the Richer laboratory have obtained numerous fellowships including NIH F31, F32, F99/K00 and K99/R00 grants, and various other career development awards. Jennifer received the NIH Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) Faculty Sponsor Award and Dean’s Mentoring Award in 2015. Dr. Richer has experience serving as external reviewer for proposed doctoral programs at other universities and in 2023 she became University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Graduate School Dean, a half time position with the Graduate School Team and she continues to lead her active breast cancer research program.