"Improving Pancreas Cancer Patient Access to Molecular Profiling Through Technology Development and Uniform Testing Strategies"

Speaker:

Ryne Ramaker, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Fellow
Division of Hematology & Oncology
Duke University

About Ryne Ramaker:

Dr. Ramaker completed his MD and PhD through a joint program with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Medical Scientist Training Program and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.

During his graduate training, Dr. Ramaker worked closely with the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements consortium to develop high-throughput methods for characterizing gene regulatory networks that drive cell type specific expression programs, with a focus on gastrointestinal cell types. His thesis, “Transcriptional Changes Underpinning Poor Prognosis And Chemoresistance In Pancreatic Cancer,” examined how pancreatic cancer cells alter gene expression to acquire multidrug resistance. His work demonstrated that chemotherapy resistance arises through multiple mechanisms, including altered drug transport, metabolic reprogramming, and epigenetic dysregulation, underscoring the clinical challenge of treating refractory pancreatic cancer.

At Duke, Dr. Ramaker has taken an active role in the Molecular Tumor Board and has led an initiative to expand expert clinical sequencing review to rural community oncology clinics across North Carolina. His research focuses on developing novel methods for error-corrected sequencing and rare mutation detection. His work on a sensitive approach to circulating tumor DNA detection in pancreatic cancer patients has been recognized with a Hopper Belmont Inspiration Award and a Duke Office of Physician Scientist Development Technician Support Award.

Dr. Ramaker’s future work aims to apply advanced sequencing technologies to better understand the earliest mutations that drive tumor formation and to enable earlier clinical detection of pancreatic cancer when curative treatment is still possible. He plans to pursue these goals as a physician scientist leading an independent research program while providing dedicated clinical care for patients with pancreatic cancer.