ASCO Mourns Maura Gillison, Researcher Who Linked HPV-16 to Head and Neck Cancers
Updated
Updated · Oncodaily · Jul 10
ASCO Mourns Maura Gillison, Researcher Who Linked HPV-16 to Head and Neck Cancers
1 articles · Updated · Oncodaily · Jul 10
Summary
ASCO said the oncology community is mourning Maura L. Gillison, whose work established HPV as a cause of a subset of head and neck cancers.
In a 2000 Journal of the National Cancer Institute paper, Gillison and colleagues identified HPV-16 as a direct causal agent in biologically distinct head and neck tumors.
That finding overturned decades of medical consensus that had attributed all head and neck cancers primarily to tobacco and alcohol.
Gillison trained in zoology at Duke, earned her medical degree at Johns Hopkins, and later completed a doctorate in clinical investigation at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
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From Discovery to Prevention: Dr. Maura L. Gillison’s Impact on HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancers
Overview
Dr. Maura L. Gillison, who passed away in 2026, was a pioneering oncologist whose research fundamentally changed the understanding of head and neck cancers. Her landmark discovery established that the human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV-16, is a major cause of these cancers. This breakthrough shifted the scientific view of their origins, leading to new diagnostic methods, prevention strategies, and targeted therapies. Dr. Gillison’s work not only transformed cancer research and treatment but also inspired ongoing studies and public health efforts, leaving a lasting impact on the field and improving outcomes for countless patients.