Rachael Guenter, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology in the UAB Department of Surgery, was recently featured in The Endocrinologist, the Society for Endocrinology’s official magazine, for her pioneering research in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and pancreatic cancer. Her interview highlights her efforts to develop new therapeutic models and understand molecular pathways that drive these complex diseases.
Guenter, who joined the department in the Division of Surgical Oncology as a faculty member in 2023, leads a translational research program focused on improving the detection and treatment of gastrointestinal NETs. Her lab currently investigates how the Notch signaling pathway contributes to NET progression and is exploring molecular mechanisms that make pancreatic tumors more difficult to detect and treat. She also serves as a co-founder of the international NET Models Consortium, which is working to develop more accurate laboratory models to better reflect the clinical behavior of NETs.
In the feature, Guenter reflects on her journey from biomedical engineering to cancer biology, her passion for mentoring young scientists and the importance of collaboration in translational science.
“I’m excited about the growing number of young scientists dedicating their careers to studying neuroendocrine cancer,” Guenter said. “The more we collaborate, the closer we get to more effective treatments.”
Guenter also shared what drives her as a scientist -- “I love the puzzle-solving aspect of using science to uncover how cancer behaves and how we might disrupt it. My work is driven by a desire to bring better therapies to patients who currently have few options.”
Guenter completed her Ph.D. in cancer biology at UAB in 2021 under the mentorship of Herbert Chen, M.D., Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair of the Department of Surgery, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in surgical oncology. She now leads her own research program alongside her mentor, J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS., director of the UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center. In addition to her research, Guenter is committed to mentoring students, fellows and early-career scientists pursuing careers in surgical oncology and endocrine cancer research.
Read the full article featuring Guenter here.