In this in-depth episode of the Project Purple Podcast, CEO & Founder Dino Verrelli welcomes Dr. Despina Siolas, a physician-scientist at Cornell University whose work spans both the clinic and the research lab. With an M.D. from Stony Brook School of Medicine, a Ph.D. in genetics from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and medical oncology training at NYU, Dr. Siolas brings a unique perspective to the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Siolas shares her personal journey into medicine, inspired by her mother’s colon cancer diagnosis when she was just 16, and explains how her dual role as a clinician and researcher allows her to translate what she sees in the clinic directly into groundbreaking studies. She dives into the challenges and intricacies of studying KRAS mutations, found in 93% of pancreatic tumors, and how new insights and emerging therapies are finally offering hope for patients.
Listeners will hear about the importance of genetic testing, the collaboration of diverse teams in her lab, and the role of patient advocacy in shaping research priorities. Dr. Siolas also discusses her experience as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, the necessity of systemic change in research, and how Project Purple’s Recovery Grant helped her continue critical work after unexpected funding challenges.
Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, advocate, or science enthusiast, this episode provides a powerful look at the intersection of patient care, genetic research, and innovative treatments, highlighting how progress in the lab can directly impact lives in the clinic.
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Read our press release to learn more about how Project Purple’s Pancreatic Cancer Research Recovery Grant is helping Dr. Siolas sustain her important work.
