Research

Research Priorities: Pancreatic cancer, role of molecular mechanisms in causing pancreatic cancer, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN), pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN)

Ralph Hruban is a pathologist and cancer researcher. His main focus is on the causes of pancreatic cancer. He investigates precancerous stages and their genetics. He also studies the genetic basis for the aggregation of pancreatic cancer in families, and he has developed on-line teaching materials and apps relating to the topic.

Pancreatic cancer is caused by inherited and acquired mutations in specific genes. Ralph Hruban wants to define the specific genes involved, and to understand the curable precursor lesions that give rise to aggressive pancreatic cancer. To this end, he combines his training in pathology with genetic analyses to investigate the lesions, which are considered preliminary stages on the way to invasive pancreatic cancer. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN) and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) are key to this research. A better understanding of these precursor lesions could pave the way for the early detection of pancreatic neoplasia. In a study of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PanNET) he was able to demonstrate that mutations in three genes (MEN-1, DAXX, ATRX) drive these tumors. The precise analysis of these mutations creates the foundations for new therapeutic approaches.

He is also dedicated to educating the lay public about science, and he has developed educational web pages and published the book “A scientific revolution: Ten men and women who reinvented American medicine” (co-authored by Will Linder).

Career

• Director, Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA
• Director, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
• Baxley Professor and Director of the Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
• 1994 Co-Founder, National Familial Pancreas Tumor Registry, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA
• since 1999 Professor of Pathology and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
• 1990 Specialist for anatomical Pathology
• 1989-1990 Chief Resident in Pathology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA
• 1988-1989 Fellow, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, USA
• 1986-1988 Resident in Anatomical Pathology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA
• 1985 MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

Functions

• 2013-2015 President, Johns Hopkins Medical and Surgical Association, Baltimore, USA
• 1999-2011 Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), Manhattan Beach, USA
• Member, Board of Directors, Joseph C. Monastra Foundation, Baltimore, USA
• Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Michael Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, Chicago, USA
• Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Cancer Patients Alliance, Pacific Grove, USA

Honours and Memberships

• 2020, 2017, 2013 Team Science Award, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), USA
• 2016 Fred W. Stewart Award, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, USA
• 2014 Outstanding Achievement in Educational Innovation, Institute for Excellence in Education (IEE), Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, USA
• since 2013 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award, Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association, Baltimore, USA
• 2013 Ruth Leff Siegel Award, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• 2012 Medical Education Award, BioCommunications Association, Attleboro, USA
• 2012 Ruth C. Brufsky Award of Excellence in Clinical Research for Pancreatic Cancer, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
• 2012 Frank Netter Award for Special Contributions to Medical Education, Vesalius Trust for Visual Communication in the Health Sciences, Placitas, USA
• 2011 Ranice W. Crosby Distinguished Achievement Award, Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
• 2006 Medical Visionary Award, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network PanCAN, Manhattan Beach, USA
• 2002 Arthur Purdy Stout Prize, Arthur Purdy Stout Society of Surgical Pathologists, USA
• 2001 Ramzi Cotran Award, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, USA and Canada