Initiative Leadership & Contact

Principal Investigator

Marjory Charlot, MD, MPH, MsC

Email: marjory_charlot@med.unc.edu
Phone: (919) 966-8305

Marjory Charlot, MD, MPH, MSc, is a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member with a research focus on developing interventions to improve cancer care delivery for medically underserved populations, patient and community engagement to enhance cancer clinical trial participation among underrepresented minority populations, health equity, and racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in cancer outcomes.

Project Director

Lauren Matthews

Email: lauren_matthews@med.unc.edu
Phone: (919) 843-5321

Lauren Matthews, MPH, is the Project Director for the Cancer Research Equity and Advocacy through Translation and Engagement (C.R.E.A.T.E) initiative as well as the Administrator for the Equity Council at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. She supports and manages the ongoing development and implementation efforts for both initiatives.

Lauren has extensive experience in research project management and community engagement focused on addressing cancer disparities. She is committed to increasing research participation and awareness in underserved communities. Lauren graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with her MPH in Health Policy and Administration and has plans to pursue an advanced degree soon focused on leadership and public health policy.

Clinical Trials Nurse Navigator

Ashley Rankin Collins

Ashley Rankin Collins is the Clinical Trial Patient Navigator for the CREATE initiative and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Ashley’s experience includes advocacy work for patients with breast cancer under age 40, and over a decade of experience as a patient advisor and educator within maternal healthcare.

Ashley is passionate about centering a patient’s experience and preferences in their own healthcare and bolstering communication between patients, caregivers and their providers.