Rhoda Alani
Encyclopedia
Rhoda Myra Alani is an American doctor.
on October 2, 1964, one of three children of Naim and Esperance Alani. Her father was a real estage agent and her mother an artist. Rhoda studied biochemistry
at Binghamton University
with a Chancellor's Scholars Award and full tuition/board scholarship. Graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Binghamton, she attended the University of Michigan
Medical School. The award of a Howard Hughes Medical Institute
–National Institutes of Health Research Scholarship allowed her to perform sponsored research at the National Cancer Institute
in Bethesda, Maryland
from 1988–1989. She graduated with a masters degree from the University of Michigan
as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society with Distinction in Research. Following an internship in medicine at the Yale University
School of Medicine, Dr. Alani performed residency training in Dermatology
at Harvard Medical School and postdoctoral research training in the Harvard Cancer Center under an NIH
K08 research training grant. She subsequently completed additional postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center prior to starting an independent research career at Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine.
From 1999–2009, Dr. Alani was the Director of the Laboratory of Cutaneous Oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she was an Associate Professor in Oncology, Dermatology, and Molecular Biology and Genetics. She was recruited to Boston University
School of Medicine in 2010 where, as of 2011, she is the Herbert Mescon Professor and Chair of Dermatology as well as Dermatologist-in-Chief at Boston Medical Center
. Dr. Alani is Director of the Laboratory of Melanoma Biology at Boston University School of Medicine, where her research program is focused on understanding the molecular basis of melanoma development and progression with the aim of translating basic laboratory findings to improved prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of melanoma
.
Dr. Alani is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology
, the Society for Investigative Dermatology, the American Association for Cancer Research
and was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation
in 2005. She the author of numerous scientific publications and is the owner (or co-owner) of several US patents related to melanoma
biomarkers, novel melanoma therapies, and imaging systems for improved melanoma detection. She is married to Dr. Philip A. Cole, Professor and Chair of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She has 2 children and lives in Baltimore and Boston.
Biography
She was born in Roslyn, New YorkRoslyn, New York
Roslyn is a village in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 2,770...
on October 2, 1964, one of three children of Naim and Esperance Alani. Her father was a real estage agent and her mother an artist. Rhoda studied biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
at Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
with a Chancellor's Scholars Award and full tuition/board scholarship. Graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Binghamton, she attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Medical School. The award of a Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute is a United States non-profit medical research organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It was founded by the American businessman Howard Hughes in 1953. It is one of the largest private funding organizations for biological and medical research in the United...
–National Institutes of Health Research Scholarship allowed her to perform sponsored research at the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
from 1988–1989. She graduated with a masters degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society with Distinction in Research. Following an internship in medicine at the Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
School of Medicine, Dr. Alani performed residency training in Dermatology
Dermatology
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....
at Harvard Medical School and postdoctoral research training in the Harvard Cancer Center under an NIH
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
K08 research training grant. She subsequently completed additional postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center prior to starting an independent research career at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
School of Medicine.
From 1999–2009, Dr. Alani was the Director of the Laboratory of Cutaneous Oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she was an Associate Professor in Oncology, Dermatology, and Molecular Biology and Genetics. She was recruited to Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
School of Medicine in 2010 where, as of 2011, she is the Herbert Mescon Professor and Chair of Dermatology as well as Dermatologist-in-Chief at Boston Medical Center
Boston Medical Center
Boston Medical Center is a non-profit 639 licensed-bed medical center in Boston, Massachusetts. It was created by the formal merger of Boston City Hospital which was the first municipal hospital in the United States and Boston University Medical Center Hospital in July 1996 which was sponsored...
. Dr. Alani is Director of the Laboratory of Melanoma Biology at Boston University School of Medicine, where her research program is focused on understanding the molecular basis of melanoma development and progression with the aim of translating basic laboratory findings to improved prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
.
Dr. Alani is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology
American Academy of Dermatology
The American Academy of Dermatology is the largest organization of dermatologists in the world. It was founded in 1938 and represents 17,000 dermatologists in the United States, Canada, and around the world. The Academy grants Fellowships and Associate Memberships, as well as Fellowships for...
, the Society for Investigative Dermatology, the American Association for Cancer Research
American Association for Cancer Research
The American Association for Cancer Research is the world's oldest and largest professional association to advancing cancer research. Based in Philadelphia, AACR focuses on all aspects of cancer research including basic, clinical and translational research into the etiology, prevention, diagnosis,...
and was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation
American Society for Clinical Investigation
The American Society for Clinical Investigation, or ASCI, established in 1908, is one of the nation's oldest and most respected medical honor societies.-Organization and Purpose:...
in 2005. She the author of numerous scientific publications and is the owner (or co-owner) of several US patents related to melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
biomarkers, novel melanoma therapies, and imaging systems for improved melanoma detection. She is married to Dr. Philip A. Cole, Professor and Chair of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She has 2 children and lives in Baltimore and Boston.