Office
(631) 444-9539
Email
jennie.williams@stonybrookmedicine.edu
Stony Brook Medicine
Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine
HSC, T-17 room 080
101 Nicolls Road
Stony Brook, NY 11794-8175
Jennie Williams, PhD
Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Stony Brook Cancer Center
Assistant Dean for Student Diversity and Aligned Pre-Doctoral Programs and
Associate Professor, Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine,
Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
Associate Professor, Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University
Research Program
Oncogenic Drivers and Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis
Department
Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine
Research Interest
Dr. Williams is a cancer researcher whose career reflects a deep commitment to advancing equity in biomedical science. She earned her BS from Savannah State University, M.S. from Tuskegee University, and Ph.D. from Purdue University, followed by postdoctoral training at Harvard University. Her journey into cancer research began at the Institute for Cancer Prevention in Valhalla, NY. She later joined Stony Brook University, where she rose through the ranks to become a tenured Associate Professor. Dr. Williams’s early investigations centered on the efficacy of standard and novel chemotherapeutic agents, with a particular focus on NSAID derivatives in colon cancer. Her team examined the role of transcription factors such as NF-κB in cancer progression, contributing to the understanding of molecular pathways that drive tumor development. Presently, Dr. Williams leads pioneering research into racial disparities in cancer outcomes. Her lab explores:
• Genetic mutations linked to cancer susceptibility
• DNA methylation patterns influencing gene regulation
• Microbiome profiles and their impact on tumor biology
• miRNA dysregulation in cancer progression
Motivated by the underrepresentation of African American models in cancer research, Dr. Williams’s group develops diverse experimental systems which includes 2D cell lines, 3D organoids, and patient-derived xenografts. These studies aim to advance personalized medicine and reduce inequities in cancer care.
Education
BS, Savannah State University
MS, Tuskegee University
PhD, Purdue University
Publications
A complete list of publications can be found HERE.