2025

Suzann Duan, PhD
UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

BTSI

The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) congratulates Suzann Duan, PhD from the University of California, Irvine as the 2025 recipient of NANETS’ Basic/Translational Science Investigator Award (BTSI). Dr. Duan was awarded this scholarship for her proposal: Targeting the Epigenetic Landscape of GEP-NETs through Menin-MLL Inhibition. The award will be recognized at the NANETS Multidisciplinary NET Medical Symposium at the JW Marriott in Austin, TX during October 23-25, 2025 by the NANETS’ Scientific Review and Research Committee.

Earlier this year, Dr. Duan joined the faculty at the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she studied the cells-of-origin for neuroendocrine tumors in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas (GEP-NETs) and worked to identify novel signaling pathways that contribute to the pathogenesis of these tumors. Last year, Dr. Duan received the 2024 NANETS Rising Star award at the 2024 NANETS Multidisciplinary NET Medical Symposium in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Duan will be mentored by Dr. Juanita Merchant, MD, PhD, who is the Associate Director of Basic Sciences at the UA Cancer Center and Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the UA College of Medicine. “Throughout her transition to independence, Suzann has been able to take certain resources and materials from my lab that she will continue to use for her BTSI proposal,” said Dr. Merchant. “I fully support Suzann as she carries these projects forward at UCI.”

This project will test the application of a new class of cancer drugs known as menin-MLL inhibitors in preclinical GEP-NET models. The goal of this project is to define how menin-MLL inhibition impacts the epigenetic landscape of these tumors by modulating the levels of the tumor suppressor protein menin. This work addresses a major gap in our understanding and is both innovative and impactful as it carries the potential to inform the delivery of menin-MLL inhibitors in the adjuvant setting.

The BTSI award is a two-year, $100,000 grant made possible through generous support from the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF). The purpose of the BTSI Award is to encourage early career scientists in fellowship or new faculty appointments to pursue research focused on neuroendocrine cancer. NETRF has funded the BTSI since 2016.

“NETRF is proud to collaborate with NANETS to support Dr. Duan’s research,” said Elyse Gellerman, CEO of NETRF. “Funding basic and translational science is critical for the development of new treatments, which patients urgently need.”

NANETS is grateful to NETRF, whose tremendous investment in this annual research grant has made a difference in the NET medical community and the patients we serve. The NANETS Scientific Review & Research Committee establishes the award criteria, reviews process, and independently selects the recipient.

Junaid Arshad, MD, MS
University of Arizona Cancer Center

NCIS

The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) congratulates Junaid Arshad, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, as the 2025 recipient of NANETS Clinical Investigator Scholarship (NCIS). Dr. Arshad was awarded this scholarship for his proposal: The TROP2 Reveal; Validating the Role and Reach in a Prospective Study of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Dr. Junaid Arshad, a recognized expert in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), has launched a dedicated NET clinical and research program at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, marking an historic milestone for Southern Arizona. This initiative brings cutting-edge therapies, including radioligand treatments, closer to home, advancing both patient care and scientific discovery. This NET program not only offered patients access to novel therapies but also positioned University of Arizona as a regional NET research and treatment center. Dr. Del Rivero, MD from the National Cancer Institute and Dr. Rachna Shroff, MD, MS, FASCO from the University of Arizona Cancer Center are Dr. Arshad’s mentors.

Dr. Del Rivero states that Dr. Arshad is a thoughtful, driven and enthusiastic colleague who has demonstrated a remarkable degree of initiative. He approached me proactively with a research concept related to TROP2 expression in NETs, and within a matter of weeks, we were able to generate preliminary data with encouraging results. The work garnered notable interest and laid a strong foundation for further investigation. “We are very excited to work together and complete this project with impactful results.”

The University of Arizona Cancer Center is fully committed to supporting Dr. Arshad’s career development and his mentors. The institution has provided Dr. Arshad protected time and the available resources for the duration of this project, ensuring a conducive environment for research and scholarly productivity. Dr. Arshad will have access to UACC’s robust research infrastructure, including biostatistics, regulatory, data management and grant support services,” said Dr. Rachna Shroff. “He will also participate in institutional multidisciplinary NET tumor board, which offers valuable exposure to real-world clinical decision-making and promotes translational research opportunities.”

Dr. Shroff further adds” “We are appreciative of NANETS for supporting rising stars like Dr. Arshad as they develop into prolific clinical investigators. The University of Arizona Cancer Center has seen his remarkable growth as a bright, talented and driven scholar and we look forward to watching his commitment to and expertise in neuroendocrine cancer continue to thrive under the auspices of this prestigious award”.

Dr. Arshad’s long-term goal is to study the targeting of TROP2 as a novel therapeutic treatment in advanced GEP-NETs. His current project has two aims:

1. Validate TROP2 expression in GEP-NETs through a multi-institutional prospective study (NCT05237934) involving transcriptomic analysis of 300 samples. Additionally, we will assess membranous TROP2 expression via immunohistochemistry (IHC) using an anti-TROP2 monoclonal antibody in an institutional cohort.
2. Investigate the correlation between TROP2 expression and overall survival, as well as other biomarkers such as Ki-67, DLL3, and PD-L1. We will conduct univariable and multivariable analyses to identify relationships between TROP2 and these additional variables.

NANETS is pleased to support Dr. Arshad’s work on this research proposal. The NCIS award is a two-year, $50,000 grant supported by an educational grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

NANETS is grateful to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, whose generous investment and support of this annual research grant will make a difference in the NET medical community and the patients we serve. The NANETS Scientific Review & Research Committee establishes the award criteria, reviews process and independently selects the recipient.