Dr. Sullivan, like many young investigators in gastroenterology and hepatology, aspires to become a leader in the GI field.
Brian A. Sullivan, MD, a 2021 AGA Research Scholar Award recipient, is a physician-scientist who aspires to lead a collaborative research program and develop more effective strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention. Dr. Sullivan is an assistant professor at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
What drew you to the field of gastroenterology?
During my internal medicine training, it became clear that becoming a gastroenterologist would not only provide the procedural training necessary to diagnose and treat the precursors of gastrointestinal cancer, but also allow me to better develop my clinical acumen so I can help reduce the burden of many other gastrointestinal illnesses.
What’s something unique/interesting about your research that we may not know?
Interestingly, the groundwork for my genetic research was laid a long time ago. Dr. David Lieberman (past AGA President) and the CSP#380 co-investigators had the foresight to not only develop a prospective CRC screening cohort before colonoscopy was even known to be effective they also created an associated biorepository of blood, normal colon tissue, polyps, and CRC that is not currently available elsewhere. Since this cohort has previously led to significant contributions in the field of CRC prevention, we hope that our ongoing genetic studies will help guide future research seeking to develop effective, personalized screening and surveillance recommendations.
What impact do you hope your research will have on patients?
I believe this Research Scholar Award study has the potential to impact patients by improving CRC prevention in many important ways. Findings from this study will support our long-term research goal of focusing intensive CRC screening and surveillance towards those most likely to benefit. Achieving this goal could both reduce the burden of GI malignancy and the unnecessary use of health care resources. By tailoring screening to one’s own individual risk profile, I hope this research will help those with limited access to health care, and potentially mitigate disparities in CRC prevention across many diverse populations.
How will this research award support you in achieving your career goals?
This award provides me with the resources to venture into a new area of research and will establish a foundation for building my own, independent collaborative research program.
What would you like to say to the donors who are supporting your research?
I am beyond excited to be able to continue my journey as a young physician-scientist with the funding support. I truly understand that my career would not be possible without those who generously support scientific research. I am humbled at the opportunity to contribute to something larger than myself. As such, I am extremely grateful to the AGA and its donors who continue to support this vision of a future where suffering related to digestive diseases has been eliminated.
Something you may not know about me is …
I lived abroad in Thailand for three months, which sparked a lifelong love of international travel and appreciation for the different cultures in our large, yet still closely connected, world.
In my free time I like to …
Travel with both my wife (Laura) and dog (Bodhi), experience new foods and activities, and exercise with CrossFit.
If I were not a scientist, I would …
Have still found a way to become a scientist. I cannot imagine life without the ability to formally pursue one’s intellectual curiosity, improve the health of others, and seek answers to questions that can help advance scientific knowledge for the benefit of future generations.
It’s through a strong partnership with you, our donors, that the AGA Research Foundation can fund our robust and impactful Research Awards Program.
