Dr Simone Badal

Dr Simone Badal, an early-career Jamaican cancer researcher, has transformed cancer research through her pioneering development of Caribbean cancer cell lines, advancing treatment options for breast and prostate cancer in Black populations globally. Recognizing the critical gap in cancer research models that predominantly represented Caucasian patients, Dr Badal achieved a historic breakthrough by creating ACRJ-PC28, the first Caribbean prostate cancer cell line in 2022.

Under her leadership, her laboratory has developed four prostate cancer cell lines and three breast cancer cell lines, significantly expanding the representation of Black populations in cancer research.

At the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus, where she serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Dr Badal has published over 45 peer-reviewed papers. Her research on screening natural and synthetic compounds for anti-cancer properties has expanded across UWI’s campuses, fostering pan-Caribbean collaboration.

Her innovative work has attracted over US$1 million in funding, including the prestigious US$520,000 NIH Fogarty International Center’s Emerging Global Leader Award in 2020. She has secured additional grants from organizations like Pfizer and the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative to advance inclusive cancer research.

Beyond research, Dr Badal authored “No Cell Left Behind” (2023) and founded the ACRJ Foundation, which has raised over 1.5 million JMD for educational opportunities. She was selected for the 2024 Springer Nature and Breast Cancer Research Foundation Rising Scholars Program, received the 2022 Flair Distinguished Award for Science & Technology, and was recognized as a pioneer by Jamaica’s Scientific Research Council. She was also a runner-up for the 2021 Nature Research Award for Inspiring Women in Science.

For her paradigm-shifting research that promises to transform cancer outcomes for Caribbean people and her commitment to fostering scientific excellence in the region, Dr Simone Badal is named our 2025 Anthony N Sabga, Caribbean Excellence Laureate in Science & Technology.