Dr. Azra Raza is an acclaimed Pakistani-American oncologist, researcher, and author, known for her pioneering work in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Born in Karachi, Pakistan, she completed her medical education at Dow Medical College before moving to the United States to pursue advanced research and clinical practice. Today, she serves as the Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine and Director of the MDS Center at Columbia University, where her groundbreaking research is transforming the approach to cancer treatment and management.
Dr. Raza has spent over four decades studying and treating MDS and AML, with a passionate commitment to bridging the gap between science and patient care. Her groundbreaking research aims to understand the earliest stages of cancer, with a vision to shift the paradigm from treatment to early prevention. Dr. Raza’s approach emphasizes the urgent need to focus on detecting cancer before it progresses to an advanced, often incurable state. Instead of solely treating the disease after it develops, she advocates for a preventive model that could save countless lives.
Research and Approach
Dr. Raza’s work is characterized by her unique repository of patient data and biological samples—an extraordinary collection of tissues, cells, and patient histories spanning decades. She has meticulously gathered these samples to study cancer progression from the very first mutation to its clinical manifestation. This extensive biobank provides valuable insights into how cancer evolves, offering clues that could lead to early diagnostic tools and preventive measures. Dr. Raza believes that understanding the subtle changes that occur before cancer becomes clinically visible is key to its eventual eradication.
Authorship and Public Advocacy
Beyond her laboratory work, Dr. Raza is a prolific author and passionate advocate for a humane approach to cancer treatment. Her book, “The First Cell: And the Human Costs of Pursuing Cancer to the Last” (2019), offers a critical perspective on the current state of cancer research and treatment. She argues that, despite significant funding and advances in technology, the focus on discovering new therapies to treat late-stage cancers has yielded only modest improvements in patient survival rates. Instead, she advocates for a fundamental shift in how resources are allocated, prioritizing the early detection of cancer—what she terms “the first cell”—to prevent its deadly spread.
In “The First Cell”, Dr. Raza combines personal stories from her patients with a deep analysis of the economic and scientific hurdles that impede genuine progress in cancer research. She speaks with authenticity, having not only treated hundreds of patients but also having experienced the devastating impact of cancer on a personal level. Her late husband, Dr. Harvey Preisler, a noted oncologist himself, succumbed to leukaemia—a tragedy that only intensified her resolve to fight for a better approach to cancer care.
How Azra’s Work can re-Shape Future of Cancer Research
Early Detection and Prevention
Dr. Azra Raza’s emphasis on the earliest detection of cancer represents a visionary shift in oncology. While the current treatment model largely focuses on advanced cancers, her work highlights the necessity of prevention before the disease becomes aggressive. This preventive approach is increasingly recognized as a crucial future direction for oncology, with the potential to reduce the suffering and economic burden associated with late-stage treatments.
Human-Centered Care
Dr. Raza has been a vocal critic of the “war on cancer,” which often leads to patients enduring debilitating treatments with limited chances of success. She advocates for more compassionate care that prioritizes patients’ quality of life. This message is critical as medicine advances, ensuring that new technologies and treatments do not lose sight of the human beings they are designed to help.
Precision Medicine and Data-Driven Research
Her work with patient samples also foreshadows the growing field of precision medicine—an approach that tailors treatment to the unique genetic makeup of individual patients. Dr Raza’s extensive data collection on MDS and AML patients is invaluable for developing targeted therapies that are more effective and less toxic. This kind of research, combining personalized care with large datasets, represents the future of oncology and medical treatment as a whole.
Interdisciplinary Approach
Dr. Raza’s advocacy extends beyond the clinical setting. She actively engages in conversations across disciplines—including policy, economics, and ethics—about how to improve the healthcare system for cancer patients. Her public lectures, interviews, and writings are helping shape a narrative where patient-centred care, early detection, and a collaborative effort between science, society, and ethics are prioritized.
Dr. Azra Raza’s impact on oncology is both scientific and deeply human
She envisions a world where cancer can be detected early, treated gently, and perhaps prevented entirely—a future where patients are spared the trauma of aggressive, often futile treatments. Her advocacy for a shift from “the last cell to the first cell” resonates powerfully today, influencing researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers to rethink how cancer should be tackled in the decades to come.
