National Brain Tumor Society has appointed pediatric oncologist Susan Blaney, MD, as Chief Scientific Officer.
Susan Blaney is the Director of Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Division Chief of Pediatric Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). She also serves as BCM’s Vice President of Clinical and Translational Research, Associate Chair of Clinical Research for BCM’s Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics. In addition to her leadership roles at BCM, Dr. Blaney is Vice Chair of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and Chair of the COG Phase 1 and Pilot Consortium.
She contributes her expertise as a member of the NCI’s Clinical Trials Advisory and Investigational Drug Steering Committees and acts as a consultant to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Pediatric Oncology Drug Advisory Committee. Dr. Blaney is actively involved with major professional organizations, serving as a member and consultant to the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
As a prolific author, she has published more than 220 peer-reviewed articles and is a co-editor of the world’s leading textbook in pediatric oncology. In her new role, Dr. Blaney will lead the scientific agenda and partnerships of the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) with the goal of accelerating the development of therapies for both pediatric and adult brain tumors.
“I am deeply inspired by NBTS’s bold vision and long-standing commitment to the brain tumor community. I’ve spent my career working to improve the lives of children with cancer, particularly those with brain tumors, and I’m excited to now help lead efforts that span the full spectrum of ages and tumor types, accelerating breakthroughs that can make a real difference for patients and families.” – said Dr. Blaney.
As Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Blaney will lead the development and implementation of NBTS’s scientific strategy, overseeing research priorities, funding allocations, and collaborations with top academic institutions, clinical networks, government agencies, and biopharmaceutical companies. Her addition strengthens the NBTS research team, which already includes two PhDs with backgrounds in industry and government.
Dr. Blaney’s career is grounded in both scientific excellence and service. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Xavier University in Cincinnati and earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio. She completed her pediatric internship at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu and residency at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco. Her pediatric hematology and oncology fellowship was completed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Early on, her career was shaped by active-duty service in the U.S. Army at various military medical facilities.
Dr. Blaney’s appointment marks a transformative moment for the National Brain Tumor Society, promising renewed momentum and groundbreaking progress in the fight against brain tumors.