
Group 2C: Breast Cancer; Biomarkers; Tumor Biology
Wednesday, June 14
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern Time (US/New York)
Mentor: Joan Mancuso
Joan Mancuso has been living with metastatic breast cancer since 2007. She was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2003. For over a decade Joan has been involved in many breast cancer projects. She was an advocate member of the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium with Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania. The TBCRC conducts high-impact clinical trials. Joan was also a member of the planning committee for the Metastatic Breast Cancer Research Conference’s annual meeting, working to develop the meeting’s advocate program. Through SHARE Cancer Support Joan was interviewed on talk radio to raise awareness of MBC during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She facilitated a SHARE telephone support group for people living with MBC and wrote news stories about cancer conference sessions for an MBC newsletter, among many other projects over the years. Joan also participated as an advocate in the AACR’s Scientist<->Survivor Program. Joan is currently a volunteer in ASCO’s TAPUR Publications Group. She contributed to the section on patient education and access to the 2023 ASCO update on the use of biosimilars in oncology, published in JCO Oncology Practice. Joan was a consumer reviewer for the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program for several years and an advocate on scientific grant proposals and clinical trial protocols at major cancer centers. She is a former special reports editor on a news desk for financial news.
Twitter: @2020VisionGirl
Scientist: Eliza Barragan, Ph.D.
Eliza Barragan is a scientist with a diverse background in molecular biology, genetics, neurobiology, and aging. She transitioned to cancer research when she was recruited to start a tissue and body donation program, aimed to accelerate research in the metastatic setting. As a translational scientist, Eliza strives to bring scientists and clinicians together to answer critical questions that impact the care and treatment strategies for patients in the clinic. She is passionate about making science accessible and easy-to-understand for patients.