Prof. Kunle Odunsi has been chosen as the speaker for the University of Chicago's upcoming Convocation ceremony, scheduled for June 7, 2025. Odunsi is a prominent figure in the field of immunology and immunotherapies for cancer, with a focus on ovarian cancer treatment. He holds the positions of director of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center and Dean for Oncology in the Biological Sciences Division, roles he has fulfilled since his arrival at the university in 2021.
Odunsi expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating, "I am delighted to address the Class of 2025 at this year’s Convocation ceremonies. These students have spent years learning how others created bold visions; and with this important milestone in their journey, they have the chance to go out in the world and make their own visions into reality.”
Odunsi's work emphasizes immune recognition and tolerance in ovarian cancer, aiming to translate these findings into first-in-human clinical trials. He is a pioneer in developing antigen-specific vaccine therapy and next-generation cellular therapies to extend remission rates for women with ovarian cancer. He is currently serving as co-principal investigator on the Roswell Park–University of Chicago Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in ovarian cancer.
His accolades include membership in the National Academy of Medicine, The Association of American Physicians, as well as fellowships in The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of the United Kingdom. He is a recipient of several awards such as the Rosalind Franklin Excellence in Ovarian Cancer Research Award and The Society of Gynecologic Oncology Innovation Award. Odunsi has authored or co-authored over 420 publications and contributed to various books and book chapters.
Upon joining UChicago’s Comprehensive Cancer Center in March 2021, Odunsi became only the second Black director of a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the program’s 50-year history. In 2027, the University of Chicago plans to open a 575,000-square-foot pavilion dedicated to cancer treatment and research, marking a significant milestone as the first of its kind in Illinois.
The Convocation weekend will commence on June 6, starting with the College's Class Day on the Main Quadrangles. The celebration will honor graduating College students and will include an address by David Axelrod, AB’76, the founding director of UChicago’s Institute of Politics. Events for the College and UChicago's various schools and divisions will continue through June 6-8. More details can be found on the Convocation website.