The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Welcomes Lynn Matrisian, Ph.D as Vice President of Scientific and Medical Affairs

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Jan 10, 2012, 08:00 ET

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network announced today Lynn Matrisian, Ph.D has joined the organization as Vice President, Scientific and Medical Affairs in their Los Angeles area headquarters. Matrisian will oversee the Research and Scientific Affairs and Patient and Liaison Services programs in this newly-created position.

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"For decades, I have been committed to the fight against cancer, and I am excited to take my experience to the next level at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network," stated Matrisian. "I have followed the great work of the organization in recent years and am thrilled to be a part of the team working to defeat this deadly disease."

"I am honored to welcome Lynn to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Her level of expertise and extensive experience in the field of cancer research will undoubtedly move our mission forward to advance research, support patients and create hope for the pancreatic cancer community," said Julie Fleshman, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Matrisian is highly regarded for her extensive expertise in the field of cancer biology. Her scientific focus has been on a family of proteins associated with tumor formation and spread, a field to which she made significant contributions. She also has an excellent reputation for her mentorship skills and sustaining long-term professional relationships with colleagues in the scientific and medical communities. Additionally, Matrisian is a past president of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and has served as Special Assistant to the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Recently, to further enhance her expertise in management, Lynn enrolled in an executive MBA program at Vanderbilt University.

Matrisian earned her Ph.D in Molecular Biology at the University of Arizona, completed postdoctoral training in Strasbourg, France, and in 1986 joined the Vanderbilt University Department of Cell Biology as an Assistant Professor. In 2000, she was instrumental in starting the Department of Cancer Biology at Vanderbilt and served as its founding chair, a position she held until her departure in December 2011. She earned the esteemed Ingram Distinguished Professorship of Cancer Research during her 25 year tenure with Vanderbilt.

To learn more about the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network visit www.pancan.org.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization is leading the way to increase the survival rate for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative—The Vision of Progress: Double the Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate by 2020. Together, we can know, fight and end pancreatic cancer by intensifying our efforts to heighten awareness, raise funds for comprehensive private research, and advocate for dedicated federal research to advance early diagnostics, better treatments and increase chances of survival.

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Julie Fleshman
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SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network