David N. Danforth Jr., MD, MS

Dr. Danforth received his B.A. and M.D. from Northwestern University, Chicago, IL and his M.S. in physiology from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. He completed his surgical residency at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, NYC, NY, and received fellowship training in surgical oncology at the Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, and at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Additional research training included a senior staff fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Marc Lippman, National Cancer Institute, NIH. He is presently an Associate Research Physician in the Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD.

Dr. Danforth’s research efforts are focused primarily on the molecular characteristics of early breast carcinogenesis which are present in normal breast epithelium and progress with increasing risk for breast cancer. Breast ductal cells are being studied from women at normal risk and at high risk breast cancer through ongoing clinical trial in the Clinical Center, National Cancer Institute, NIH. Genomic changes are identified in ductal cells and will be used to develop molecular signatures for risk assessment, to develop new targets for breast cancer prevention, and to define breast carcinogenesis. An important 2nd area of interest of Dr. Danforth are the disparities in breast cancer outcome between Caucasian, African American and Hispanic women, especially the molecular basis for these disparities and how they are influenced by health care, socioeconomic and other nonbiologic factors. A model has been developed to describe these relationships.

Editorial Board
Terms of Appointment: July 2019 - June 2021