SGV Awards Gala

Dr. Christopher Sistrunk, City of Hope

For many years, City of Hope has been a longtime close partner with the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, largely to the leadership of Dr. Christopher Sistrunk. Together, they provide professional development programs that expose youth and young adults to biosciences careers through initiatives such as STEP and VERT. These programs give students hands-on experience in science, nutrition, laboratory techniques, and cancer research within real-world lab environments. City of Hope also works with educators to align bioscience curricula with industry standards, supporting a strong regional pathway into the biosciences workforce. The San Gabriel Valley could not ask for a stronger ally in training the next generation of professionals.

Dr. Christopher Sistrunk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Sciences at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, a member of the Divisions of Biomarkers of Early Detection and Prevention and of Health Equities, and the newly appointed Assistant Director for Community Outreach and Engagement. His work integrates laboratory science, community-partnered research, and education to reduce the cancer burden among communities historically underrepresented in biomedical research. Trained as a molecular and cellular toxicologist, Dr. Sistrunk has led laboratory investigations into the initiation and progression of triple-negative breast cancer and studies how chronic exposure to drinking water contaminants influences genomic imprinting in underrepresented communities. As Project Leader of the Community Outreach and Engagement Core of a City of Hope–UC Riverside partnership, He has reached more than 6,500 community members in three years through partnerships with faith-based organizations, wellness groups, and community colleges, and He serves as lead liaison between City of Hope investigators and community leaders on several clinical research projects. A former 8th grade science teacher, Dr. Sistrunk is the founding director of City of Hope’s STEM Training and Education Program (S.T.E.P.), which spans 3rd grade through postdoctoral and medical residency training, and over the past decade has built school district partnerships reaching more than 60,000 students through more than 55 programs. His team also delivers cancer education to approximately 9,000 households across greater Los Angeles each year.