University of Iowa College of Pharmacy Dean Jill Kolesar has been named to Forbes’ 2025 50 Over 50 list, which honors visionary women whose work is shaping industries and changing lives. Recognized in the Innovation category, Kolesar was celebrated for her groundbreaking research in cancer treatment and her efforts to expand access to those therapies for all patients. According to Forbes, "The 50 STEM standouts on the list are actively advancing the world's understanding of medicine, meteorology, and large language models."

“I’m honored to be included among such inspiring women,” Kolesar said. “This recognition reflects the work of many dedicated colleagues committed to advancing cancer care.”

In 2024, Kolesar was awarded a $10 million grant from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a new approach to combating ovarian cancer. If successful, this approach could mark a significant advancement over current treatments, which target both cancerous and healthy cells.

Kolesar's research focuses on precision medicine and oncology drug development. She has authored more than 400 abstracts, research articles, and book chapters, and as a principal investigator, has secured over $25 million in research funding from the National Cancer Institute, ARPA-H, the American Cancer Society, and other sources. She holds nine patents or patents pending and has founded two start-up companies, Helix Diagnostics and VesiCure Technologies, based on technologies developed in her laboratory.