Lynn Matrisian

Lynn M. Matrisian, Ph.D., MBA, is Chief Science Officer at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). She focuses on scientific activities that advance the organization's vision of creating a world in which all patients with pancreatic cancer will thrive. Led by Chief Science, Medical and Data Officers, PanCAN's Scientific and Medical Affairs department has developed a multifaced approach to patient support and research, including one-on-one support through Patient Central, the Research Grants Program, Clinical Trial Finder, Patient Registry, Know Your Tumor precision medicine service, Precision Promise clinical trial platform, SPARK health data platform, and the Early Detection Initiative. Dr. Matrisian also leads the effort to analyze the pancreatic cancer research landscape and disseminate knowledge through scientific publications and communications.

Dr. Matrisian is formerly a Professor and the founding Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology at Vanderbilt University. She received her PhD in molecular biology from the University of Arizona and MBA from Vanderbilt. She is past President of the American Association of Cancer Research, a Fellow of the AACR Academy, and the recipient of the Paget-Ewing award from the Metastasis Research Society. She served as co-chair of the National Cancer Institute's Translational Research Working Group and Special Assistant to the Director of the NCI. Research in her laboratory revolved around the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression and metastasis, with emphasis on the biology of matrix-degrading proteinases.