Family Nursing & Health Care

Biography

Lovell Jones is an Associate Dean for Research. Dr. Jones has more than 35 years of experience in addressing minority health and the health of the underserved. He is the former Director of the joint UT MD Anderson Cancer Center/University of Houston Dorothy I. Height Center for Health Equity & Evaluation Research. As a scientist, he has done extensive research into the relationship between hormones, diet and endocrine responsive tumors and has presented his work both nationally and internationally. Dr. Jones’ most notable innovation and service has been in leading think tanks and major events regarding the underserved and cancers, including the American Cancer Society South Central U.S. Regional Hearings on Cancer and the Poor, and the 1st National African Cancer Education meeting in Abuja, Nigeria. In January 2000, Dr. Jones was named the first director of the congressionally mandated Center for Research on Minority Health (CRMH), a multidisciplinary center which aims to foster research that addresses the causes of health disparities and translates scientific results back to the communities affected by those disparities; facilitates minority students to pursue careers in the biomedical sciences; and, increase recruitment and retention of minority and medically underserved populations into clinical trials. Dr. Jones served co-author of the congressional resolution designating the third full week in April as “National Minority Cancer Awareness Week.” For his work, the NIH/National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities awarded him its Director’s Award for Excellence in Health Disparities. Dr. Jones has also received the Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award and was selected as one of the top African American Scientist in America by the National Science Foundation “The HistoryMakers” (http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/dr-lovell-jones). Dr. Jones has been awarded approximately $40 million in research and/or educational grants, either as principal or co-principal investigator. His research has involved determining the mechanism by which natural and environmental estrogenic agents may initiate cancers in hormonally responsive tissue. A grant awarded by NIH/NCI supported the investigation of “The Women’s Health Eating and Living Study,” which examined the role of diet on the prevention and recurrence of second primaries in breast cancer survivors. A notable demonstration grant, titled “Facilitated Assistance, Research, & Outreach Services” was awarded by the Centers of Excellence for Community Partnership, Outreach, Research & Training from the National Center on Minority Health & Health Disparities and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

Research Interest

Between 1980 and 2013, Dr. Jones received more than $35 million in research funding for studies in which he was the principal investigator. During his career, Dr. Jones has received research support from the National Institutes of Health, the Rockwell Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Kellogg Company, Kellogg Foundation, American Health Foundation, Houston Endowment, Inc., Exxon-Mobil Foundation, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and the State of Texas. Some current research projects include: The Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study, which is investigating the role of diet in preventing tumor recurrence in breast cancer survivors. Sponsor: NIH The African American Women's Nutrition for Life Project, which is investigating the role of diet and exercise on reducing the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal African American women. Sponsor: American Cancer Society The EXPORT Grant, which is investigating the relationship between the environment and genes in the development of disease in migrant farm worker children, as well as developing an educational program to address the lack of underrepresented minorities and medically underserved individuals. As part of this grant, the first Asian American Health Needs Assessment will be undertaken in the State of Texas. Sponsor: National Institutes of Health/National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities The SCIENCE Project, which supports addressing the issue of science education in elementary schools.