MBBS
Assistant Professor, Hematology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Clinical Research
Area of Interest
Geriatric hematology, geriatric oncology, multiple myeloma, geriatric assessments; cognitive, functional, and psychosocial outcomes of older adults with hematological malignancies.
Shakira Grant, MBBS, is a board-certified geriatrician, hematologist, and oncologist specializing in the care of older adults with hematological malignancies. As a clinician-investigator, her overall goal is to provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to each patient’s care based upon a detailed understanding of the factors contributing to their overall fitness/frailty status. In the clinical setting, she uses geriatric assessments to capture the global health status of her patients. This allows her to focus not only on the treatment of the patient’s cancer but also on the outcomes that are often of high value and importance to older adults, such as minimizing treatment-associated toxicities and maintaining quality-of-life, physical and cognitive function throughout all stages of the cancer journey. Additionally, her research also focuses on refining currently available risk-stratification strategies used in treatment decision-making for patients with hematological malignancies by incorporating these functional and quality-of-life measures. In the future, such risk predictive models will be used to develop clinical trials examining outcomes related to the use of fitness-based approaches for therapy assignment in those with hematological malignancies and to evaluate changes in fitness/frailty status in response to cancer-directed therapies.
Physician personal statement
Aging is inevitable, but how we age is highly variable. Receiving a cancer diagnosis is often a devastating and life-altering event, the onset of a journey filled with highs and lows. For older adults, cancer’s impact could be further compounded by chronic health conditions, social isolation, mobility, and nutritional issues. As a physician, while treating your cancer is my top priority, I also focus on preserving your level of functioning, independence, and quality-of-life long-term. Overall I am passionate and committed to delivering the highest quality of care to every patient while ensuring that care remains concordant with their overall life goals.
Honors and Awards
- NextGen Disruptor Award, Healio, 2023
- Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (PRIDE) cohort, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2022
- UNC Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology K12 scholar, 2021
- Butler-Williams Scholar, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, 2020
- Chief Fellow, Hematology-Oncology University of Washington-Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 2019
- Eastern Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Second Place Oral Presentation, 2016
- Annual Scientific Research Day, University of Pennsylvania Health System, First Place Award for Clinical Research, 2014
- Society for the Advancement of Blood Management, Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, California, First Place Poster Presentation, 2013
- American College of Physicians, Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, First Place Poster Presentation (clinical vignette), 2013
- Best Clinical Practice Award, Bermuda Hospitals Board, 2009
News and Stories
UNC Lineberger research featured at American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting
UNC Lineberger members and trainees will present cancer research findings at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago, June 2-6.
Studies identify barriers between doctors and their patients that limit clinical trial enrollment for Black people with blood cancers
Shakira Grant, MBBS, the studies’ principal investigator, shared the findings during oral presentations at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in New Orleans.
Study identifies health care access barriers for older adults with multiple myeloma and their caregivers
A study led by UNC Lineberger's Shakira Grant, MBBS, and colleagues found several barriers to high-quality cancer care for people with multiple myeloma and their caregivers.
UNC Lineberger and UNC researchers discuss latest research at American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting
UNC Lineberger researchers will present the latest findings from studies and lead educational sessions at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Dec. 10-13.
