Lynn-Matrisian-133x200We are proud to announce Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA, as inaugural Chief Research Officer for our organization. Matrisian was promoted from Vice President of Scientific and Medical Affairs, where she has served since 2011.

In her expanded role, Matrisian will develop initiatives designed to transform pancreatic cancer outcomes including early detection approaches and the creation of novel biomarker-driven clinical trials.

“To meet our aggressive goal to double survival by 2020, we must expand our scientific and clinical endeavors,” said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, President and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “Lynn’s vast knowledge of the organization will drive change for this deadly disease and move us closer to our goal.”

Prior to joining our organization, Matrisian led a research laboratory dedicated to understanding cancer metastasis. She has published more than 220 original scientific articles and trained more than 30 young scientists.

Matrisian was the founding chair of the department of cancer biology in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University, President of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a special assistant to the director of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. She earned a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Arizona and an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.

From 2003 to 2015, we have funded over $28 million in research grants to 122 scientists at 51 leading institutions nationwide and are currently awarding an additional $6.8 million in funding through our 2016 grants. PanCAN Patient Services Case Managers have served over 100,000 contacts by providing clinical trials information, treatment options and hope to those fighting pancreatic cancer.

Learn more about our research efforts by visiting www.pancan.org/research.