Katherine Van Loon, has been named the new Editor-in-Chief of JCO Global Oncology (JCO GO), a journal published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

JCO GO is an online-only, open-access journal that concentrates on cancer research, care, and delivery in low-resource countries and settings. The journal seeks to tackle the difficulties faced by healthcare professionals in these areas by offering a platform for high-quality, pertinent content.

Katherine Van Loon

Dr. Katherine Van Loon is an expert in gastrointestinal cancers, especially colon cancer, and currently leads the Global Cancer Program at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. In her role, she manages various research and capacity-building initiatives in low- and middle-income countries and educational programs aimed at training future global oncology leaders. Dr. Van Loon holds a Master’s degree in public health from the Yale School of Public Health and a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and a fellowship in oncology at UCSF in 2009.

Her research focuses on the epidemiology of gastrointestinal cancers, with particular attention to the affected populations and factors influencing disease prevalence. She is committed to global health and has conducted significant research on gastrointestinal cancers in developing countries. As the Principal Investigator on projects with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences and the Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Tanzania, she studies the causes of the high rates of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Additionally, she leads a D43 award initiative to create Tanzania’s first cancer research training program, aiming to strengthen local research capabilities.

In the United States, Dr. Van Loon addresses the rising rates of early-onset colorectal cancer, particularly among Black and Latinx communities. She collaborates with the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología and the Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública in Mexico to investigate the evolving patterns of colorectal cancer among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans. Her contributions have been recognized with awards such as the Young Investigator Award from the ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation in 2012. As a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Dr. Van Loon is dedicated to improving cancer outcomes worldwide and fostering the professional growth of early-career researchers in global cancer control.

ASCO, founded in 1964, is dedicated to the belief that knowledge is key to overcoming cancer. Together with the Association for Clinical Oncology, ASCO represents over 50,000 oncology professionals focused on caring for cancer patients.

The organization aims to defeat cancer through research, education, and the promotion of high-quality, equitable patient care, striving for a future where cancer is either prevented or cured, and all survivors lead healthy lives.

Additionally, the ASCO Foundation, known as Conquer Cancer, supports this mission by funding innovative research and education throughout the entire cancer care spectrum.