The Kristy Richards Memorial Lecture honors the legacy of Dr. Kristy Richards (1968–2019), a beloved member of the Department of Biomedical Sciences whose pioneering work in comparative oncology transformed the study of canine and human lymphoma. Kristy was known for her creativity as a scientist, her generosity as a mentor, and her deep commitment to collaborative discovery. She divided her time between Cornell’s Ithaca campus and Weill Cornell Medicine, led an active clinical oncology practice in Manhattan, and played a key leadership role in building and advancing the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Biobank. In 2023, the Department of Biomedical Sciences created the Kristy Richards Initiative—a set of programs designed to continue her passion for mentorship, cross-campus collaboration, and supporting the next generation of scholars. These include the Kristy Richards BTS Collaborative Paper of the Year, the Kristy Richards Scholar Exchange Fund, the Kristy Richards Early Career Faculty Support Group, and the annual Kristy Richards Memorial Lecture.

This year’s lecture will be delivered by Mark Mamula, PhD, Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology) at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Mamula is internationally recognized for his work in immunology and autoimmune disease, with particular focus on mechanisms that shape immune responses and novel approaches that link autoimmunity with cancer biology. His research program spans fundamental mechanisms of immune activation and translational strategies designed to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Dr. Mamula will speak on:

• May 7, 2026 at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
• May 8, 2026 at Weill Cornell Medicine (New York, NY)

The lecture is co-hosted by Robert Weiss (Cornell Ithaca), Monica Guzman (Weill Cornell Medicine), and the Kristy Richards Program Committee.

All members of the Cornell community—faculty, trainees, staff, and collaborators—are warmly invited to attend as we honor Kristy’s legacy and celebrate the spirit of collaborative science she championed.