Caryn Lerman

Dr. Caryn Lerman is the Director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Associate Dean for Cancer Programs, and the H. Leslie and Elaine S. Hoffman Cancer Research Chair at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She is recognized for her cancer prevention research that bridges the fields of neuroscience, genomics, pharmacology, and population science. A major unifying focus of her research is biology-driven science to reduce cancer risk behaviors. This work has spawned novel lines of investigation, including: the behavioral epidemiology of cancer genetic susceptibility testing; pharmacogenomic approaches to tobacco dependence leading to the first prospective stratified pharmacogenomic trial in this area; and neuroscience-based interventions to reduce tobacco dependence. Her current research focus is on the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and other psychedelic therapies.

An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Lerman has served as a member of the NCI Board of Scientific Advisors, the National Human Genome Research Advisory Council, and the National Institutes on Drug Abuse Advisory Council. She is the current Vice President/President-Elect of the Association of American Cancer Institutes and a past president of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. Additional awards and honors include the American Cancer Society Cancer Control Award, the American Society of Preventive Oncology Joseph Cullen Award, the Alton Ochsner Award Relating Smoking and Health, the NIH Matilda White Riley Award, and the Los Angeles Business Journal award for Women Leaders in Healthcare.

Prior to her appointment as Director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Associate Dean for Cancer Programs, and H. Leslie and Elaine S. Hoffman Cancer Research Chair at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, Dr. Lerman served as Senior Deputy Director of the Abramson Cancer Center and Vice Dean for Strategic Initiatives in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

• Title(s)Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and PsychologySchoolKeck School of Medicine of UscPhone+1 323 865 0816vCardDownload vCard: Download vCard, Title(s)Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and PsychologySchoolKeck School of Medicine of UscPhone+1 323 865 0816vCardDownload vCard Title(s)Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and PsychologySchoolKeck School of Medicine of UscPhone+1 323 865 0816vCardDownload vCard +1 323 865 0816
• Title(s)Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and PsychologySchoolKeck School of Medicine of UscPhone+1 323 865 0816vCardDownload vCard: Download vCard, Title(s)Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and PsychologySchoolKeck School of Medicine of UscPhone+1 323 865 0816vCardDownload vCard +1 323 865 0816

• USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science
  NCI · Sep 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2028 · Role: Co-Investigator
• Neural basis of smoking relapse
  NIH · R01DA041402 · Apr 1, 2016 – Jan 31, 2021 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Neuroscience-based Interventions for Cancer Risk Behavior Change
  NIH · R35CA197461 · Aug 1, 2015 – Jul 31, 2022 · Role: Principal Investigator
• USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science
  NIH · U54CA180905 · Sep 19, 2013 – Aug 31, 2028 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• UPENN TCORS: Tobacco Product Messaging in a Complex Communication Environment
  NIH · P50CA179546 · Sep 18, 2013 – Aug 31, 2019 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Retraining Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Cancer Risk Behavior (PQ4)
  NIH · R01CA170297 · Sep 1, 2012 – Jun 30, 2018 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Cognitive Training for Nicotine Dependence
  NIH · R01DA030819 · Sep 30, 2010 – Jun 30, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Abramson Cancer Center Support Grant
  NIH · P30CA147859 · Sep 30, 2009 – Sep 29, 2012 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Functional Characterization of OPRM1 A118G in Nicotine Dependence
  NIH · R21DA027066 · Sep 30, 2009 – Aug 31, 2011 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Nicotine Abstinence-Induced Cognitive Alterations by COMT Genotype
  NIH · R03DA027438 · Sep 15, 2009 – Aug 31, 2012 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nicotine Addiction (CIRNA)
  NIH · P50CA143187 · Aug 1, 2009 – Jul 31, 2015 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Neural Substrates of Cognitive Deficits in Nicotine Withdrawal
  NIH · R01DA026849 · Aug 1, 2009 – May 31, 2013 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Pharmacogenetics of Nicotine Addiction Treatment
  NIH · U01DA020830 · Sep 15, 2005 – Jun 30, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Pharmacogenetic Investigation of Naltrexone
  NIH · R01DA017555 · Sep 30, 2003 – Jun 30, 2009 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Centers
  NIH · P50CA084718 · Sep 30, 1999 – Sep 29, 2009 · Role: Principal Investigator
• CANCER GENETICS NETWORK
  NIH · U24CA078146 · Aug 1, 1998 – Sep 30, 2007 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Decisions &Outcomes of BRCA1/2 Test for Breast Patients
  NIH · R01CA074861 · Aug 1, 1997 – Jun 30, 2010 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• University of Southern California Cancer Center Support Grant
  NCI · Dec 1, 1996 – Nov 30, 2026 · Role: Principal Investigator
• COMPARING MODELS OF COUNSELING FOR BRCA1/2 TESTING
  NIH · R01HG001846 · Sep 30, 1994 – Aug 31, 2002 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• COMPARING MODELS OF PRETEST EDUCATION FOR BRCA1 TESTING
  NIH · R01MH054435 · Sep 30, 1994 – Aug 31, 1998 · Role: Principal Investigator
• COUNSELING WOMEN AT RISK FOR BREAST CANCER
  NIH · R01CA063605 · Sep 30, 1993 – Jul 31, 1998 · Role: Principal Investigator
• BIOBEHAVIORAL LUNG CANCER PREVENTION PROGRAM
  NIH · R01CA063562 · Sep 10, 1993 – May 31, 2004 · Role: Principal Investigator
• IMPROVING ADHERENCE IN WOMEN AT RISK FOR BREAST CANCER
  NIH · R01CA057767 · Sep 30, 1992 – Feb 28, 1998 · Role: Principal Investigator
• PREVENTIVE ONCOLOGY ACADEMIC AWARD
  NIH · K07CA001604 · Jul 1, 1991 – Jun 30, 1996 · Role: Principal Investigator
• University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG)
  NIH · P30CA014089 · Apr 1, 1980 – Nov 30, 2026 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Abramson Cancer Center Support Grant
  NIH · P30CA016520 · Nov 30, 2027 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator

• Leventhal, Adam
• Unger, Jennifer
• Barrington-Trimis, Jessica
• Sussman, Steven
• Pang, Raina
• Kirkpatrick, Matthew