In 2025, Dr. Juliet Lumati received the ASCO Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award in Global Oncology, recognizing her commitment to addressing disparities in cancer care and improving outcomes for patients in low-resource settings. Just one year later, she was awarded the 2026 ASCO Conquer Cancer Johnson and Johnson Health Equity Career Development Award (CDA), a prestigious recognition supporting the next phase of her work to reduce financial barriers to cancer treatment.
Together, these awards represent a remarkable trajectory of scientific growth and impact, highlighting Dr. Lumati’s dedication to advancing cancer care equity through innovative, patient-centered research.
Dr. Juliet Lumati is a hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal surgical oncologist whose research focuses on addressing financial toxicity, health economics,implementation science, and global oncology. For more than 15 years, she has worked in the global health and oncology space, building collaborations across clinical care, public health, health systems strengthening, and cancer research in SSA . She is a surgical oncologist consultant at Lakeshore Cancer Center- The first comprehensive private cancer cancer in Nigeria and continues to navigate clinical practices the bridge academic centers in the United States and Nigeria.
The Young Investigator Award provided critical support for early-stage research examining patient experiences and barriers to cancer care. Building upon this foundation, Dr. Lumati expanded her work into the area of financial navigation, culminating in the launch of the COST-FIN Trial.
The COST-FIN Trial is the first pragmatic randomized controlled trial evaluating financial navigation for patients with cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conducted through the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO), an NCI-designated cancer consortium founded through a collaboration between Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the study seeks to determine whether structured financial navigation can reduce financial catastrophe, improve treatment adherence, and enhance quality of life among patients facing a cancer diagnosis.
The study is supported by a multidisciplinary team of more than 30 experts spanning oncology, surgery, implementation science, health economics, public health, patient navigation, biostatistics, and health policy across SSA and the United States. Together, the team is working to generate rigorous evidence that can inform scalable interventions to improve cancer outcomes and reduce the financial burden of cancer care in low-resource settings.
The trial addresses one of the most pressing yet underrecognized challenges in global oncology. In many low- and middle-income countries, patients and families face devastating out-of-pocket costs that can lead to treatment delays, treatment abandonment, and significant financial hardship.
‘Financial toxicity has become one of the most important determinants of cancer outcomes worldwide,’ said Dr. Lumati. ‘Our goal is to generate evidence-based solutions that help patients access lifesaving treatment while protecting families from financial devastation.’
The 2026 Career Development Award will support the continued implementation and evaluation of the COST-FIN Trial and related studies focused on financial hardship, food insecurity, and health equity among patients with cancer.
Dr. Lumati credits much of her development as a clinician-scientist to the mentorship and guidance she has received throughout her career. Her work has been shaped by an exceptional interdisciplinary team of mentors, including Dr. Peter Kingham, a global leader in hepatopancreatobiliary surgical oncology and global cancer care at MSKCC; Dr. Lisa Hirschhorn, an internationally recognized implementation scientist and global health researcher at Northwestern University; Dr. Isaac Alatise, Professor of Surgery at Obafemi Awolowo University and a pioneering leader in surgical oncology research in Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Chummy Nwogu CEO of LakeShore Cancer Center; and Dr. Robert Riviello, a global surgery leader, endowed chair of global surgery Harvard Medical School, educator, and advocate whose mentorship over the past 15 years has been instrumental in shaping Dr. Lumati’s commitment to the intersection of surgery and health systems strengthening,
‘The mentorship I have received has been instrumental in helping me bridge surgery, implementation science, health economics, and global oncology,’ said Dr. Lumati. ‘Their support has challenged me to think beyond individual patients and consider how we can build systems that improve outcomes at scale.’
Growing up in Nigeria having faced socioeconomic barriers herself and later pursuing advanced training in medicine, public health, and health policy, Dr. Lumati developed a deep appreciation for the structural factors that influence health outcomes. These experiences continue to shape her commitment to advancing equitable cancer care globally.
The recognition from the Conquer Cancer Foundation in consecutive years underscores the impact and promise of her work. Through partnerships across academic institutions, cancer centers, and international collaborators, she hopes to continue generating evidence that improves cancer care delivery and expands access to treatment for vulnerable populations.
‘This work would not be possible without the dedication of our multidisciplinary team of investigators, clinicians, patient navigators, research staff, and health systems leaders who share a common vision of advancing equitable cancer care,’ said Dr. Lumati. ‘I am deeply grateful to the Conquer Cancer Foundation for investing in this vision and for supporting research that seeks to ensure every patient has an opportunity to receive high-quality cancer care, regardless of where they live or their financial circumstances.’
The journey from Young Investigator Award recipient to Career Development Awardee reflects not only a personal milestone but also a broader commitment to advancing evidence-based solutions that promote cancer care equity around the world. Through research, mentorship, and international collaboration, Dr. Lumati continues to work toward a future where high-quality cancer care is accessible to all patients, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status.
Dr Lumati has also received other prestigious awards for her work and mentorship including AHPBA Gazi Zibari Global Outreach Humanitarian Award. SSO Presidential Scholar Award, Boston Top 40 Public Health Catalyst Award and was named a mentor ASCO-Aortic International Clinical Scholars Program and Northwestern University Department of Surgery Research Mentor of the Year. She current serves a Chair of the Global Affairs Committee of the AAS, International Committee of the SSO and American College of Surgeons.
Congratulations, Dr. Lumati. We are excited to follow the continued impact of your work in global oncology and to stand alongside you in your mission to ensure that every patient has access to the care they need and deserve.