Jill M Kolesar

Jill M. Kolesar is the Dean and Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, holding the Jean M. Schmidt Chair in Drug Discovery. She earned her PharmD from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, with additional training in oncology residency and fellowship. Previously, she served as the Dr. Michael E. Karpf Endowed Chair in Precision Medicine at the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center, where she co-led the Translational Oncology Program. Her research focuses on precision oncology, pharmacogenomics, and novel drug development, with over $25M in NIH grants and 9 patents. She has founded two biotech startups: Helix Diagnostics and VesiCure Technologies.

Dr. Kolesar's work emphasizes molecular tumor boards and genomic integration in cancer care. She has authored over 400 publications and co-edits major pharmacy textbooks like Pharmacotherapy Principles and Practice. Her professional leadership includes chairing the ORIEN Steering Committee and past presidency of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Awards include the AACP Innovations in Teaching Award and FCCP designation.

Her research group explores macrophage repolarization in osteosarcoma, tumor-associated macrophage therapies, and targeted therapies for ovarian and lung cancers. She leads clinical trials evaluating combination therapies and novel drug candidates. Her lab's innovations include engineered vesicle delivery systems and liquid biopsy applications in precision oncology. Current initiatives focus on Appalachian cancer disparities and germline testing implementation.

Dr. Kolesar's funded projects include NCI grants for pharmacogenomic integration and ARPA-H support for macrophage-based therapies. She advises on NCI committees and CTEP task forces, shaping national oncology research policies. Her educational contributions span interprofessional training and curriculum development in clinical pharmacy practice.