Mona study Day at the University of the West Indies (UWI) will feature a Jamaican scientist’s ground-breaking research on prostate cancer that targets Black men. It features Dr. Simone Badal, the scientist who developed the first-ever Caribbean prostate cancer cell line (ACRJ-PC28). Her work, which aims to provide cancer treatments for a larger population, is praised as a breakthrough for cancer research both globally and in Jamaica.
According to the UWI, Badal’s work is already influencing the direction of customized medicine and establishing Jamaica as a pioneer in equitable healthcare solutions, thanks to more than US$1 million in research funding obtained from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Pfizer, and the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative.
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Badal expressed her enthusiasm about how this advancement may affect cancer patients, saying, “The future for our Jamaicans and Caribbean nationals with cancer is bright as we continue this very needed research.”
Beyond her lab, Badal is a champion of Caribbean-led scientific advancement, serving as a mentor to the upcoming generation of cancer researchers and as the head of Anticancer Research Jamaica (ACRJ), a program that gives young scientists access to state-of-the-art medical research.
According to the UWI, “With cancer continuing to be one of the leading causes of death in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, her work represents far more than scientific achievement — it is a beacon of hope and progress. Her contributions to oncology, alongside the university’s broader efforts in research and innovation, reinforced UWI Mona’s position as the Caribbean’s leading institution for transformative discovery.”
Recent Research Day attendees will have the chance to participate in interactive displays, live research demonstrations, and panel discussions that address some of the most pressing issues affecting the Caribbean and the global community. Everyone may participate in Research Day 2025.
