Suzann Duan, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Medicine - (Research Series Track)
Dr. Duan has worked since 2019 as a postdoc with Gastroenterology & Hepatology Division Chief Juanita L. Merchant, MD, PhD. Her research targets the tumor suppressor protein menin (MEN1), focusing on normal and pre-cancerous changes that lead to a type of cancer called gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, or GEP-NETs. GEP-NETs comprise a group of rare tumors that can secrete hormones and display neural features. Sometimes called carcinoid tumors or islet cell tumors, they can be benign or malignant. In 2023, she received a five-year K01 award for $526,000 to study the role of hedgehog and enteric neural crest cell reprogramming in neuroendocrine differentiation. She considers Reno, Nevada, her hometown.
Honors and Awards
American Association of Cancer Research Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award, 2024
North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Best Oral Presentation - Basic Science, 2023
American Gastroenterological Association Council GRG Basic Science Trainee Award, 2022
American Association of University Women American Dissertation Fellowship, 2018
J.M. Hitchcock, PhD, Student Research Fellowship, 2017
Degrees
- PhD: Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Nevada, 2019
- BS: Boston University, 2013