Nikesha J. Gilmore, Ph.D.

Dr. Nikesha Gilmore is a tenure track Assistant Professor in the department of Surgery, Division of Supportive Care in Cancer at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). She is a translational scientist with a strong background and training in molecular mechanisms, behavioral medicine, and health disparities/health equity. Dr. Gilmore’s research focuses on two main areas: 1) the development of interventions to mechanistically target frailty in older adults with cancer and to develop evidence-based solutions to foster health equity for older Black cancer survivors and 2) to improve the relationships between older Black patients with cancer and their caregivers with oncologists.

Dr. Gilmore has been awarded a NCI-funded K01, NIH-funded KL2, an NCI-funded supplement, and institution-funded pilot grants to 1) understand the underlying mechanisms of frailty in older adults with cancer, 2) investigate the safety and feasibility of an intervention aimed to treat frailty in older cancer survivors with an emphasis on older Black survivors, and 3) understand the relationship between medical mistrust and patient-centered communication in order to improve the relationships between older Black patients and their caregivers with oncologists within the Rochester community by alleviating medical mistrust through optimized patient-centered communication.

Dr. Gilmore is also passionate about finding ways to reduce barriers individuals from all marginalized backgrounds face to clinical research careers. Thus, she co-founded the “Empowering students through Research Enrichment Actives in Cancer Control and Cancer Care Delivery: EmREACh” Student Enrichment Program. EmREACh enrolls undergraduate students from disadvantaged and marginalized backgrounds with the aimed at reducing barriers that these students face in pursuing careers in healthcare.