Dr. Antonio (Tony) Baines is a cancer pharmacologist interested in validating novel molecular targets to help combat drug resistance observed in pancreatic cancer. He received a B.S. degree in biology as a STEM honor student from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia and a Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. As a graduate student at the Arizona Cancer Center, Dr. Baines studied molecular mechanisms responsible for the chemopreventive effects of the trace element selenium against colorectal cancer. After completion of his doctorate, he received a NIH teaching/research postdoctoral fellowship to conduct research at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. Dr. Baines studied the oncoprotein K-Ras and its downstream cell signaling pathways in pancreatic cancer. In addition to his pancreatic cancer research, Dr. Baines has a strong passion for teaching and mentoring students and trainees throughout the STEM pathway. Over the years, he has received numerous university and national mentoring and teaching awards for his commitment towards STEM education. Along with having mentored undergraduate and graduate students in his cancer biology research lab, he served as director for the Integrated Biosciences doctoral program at NCCU for several years. Currently, he directs summer internship programs, serves as a STEM Faculty Fellow for NCCU’s Honors Program, and serves on various education and professional career development committees for the Society of Toxicology (SOT) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Most recently, Dr. Baines received the 2025 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest competitive teaching award granted from the UNC System Office.