Researcher Spotlight: Ambreen Merchant

What is your professional background?
I received my medical degree from Dow Medical College in Pakistan. I have been involved in several important and exciting research projects at Emory including a national registry project to study digestive manifestations of COVID-19. I plan to apply for medical residency and pursue an academic career in medicine.

In what division do you work, and who is your mentor?
I work in the Division of Digestive Diseases and my mentor is Dr. Field Willingham. I’ve had the pleasure of working with several other Emory faculty and staff as well. For my septic shock projects, Dr. Andre Holder, Dr. Greg Martin, and Dr. Annette Esper are my mentors. I am also very grateful to Dr. Ahmed Messallam, advanced GI fellow, for all his support and guidance. They are true inspirations. I feel really blessed as I learned a lot from their expertise, and I continue to learn every day!

Briefly describe your research. Why is it important?
Pancreatic cancer is associated with a 5-year survival rate of less than 40 percent for localized stages (a very aggressive cancer). While a subset may be candidates for resection, many patients are ineligible for surgery. We performed a SEER database analysis to characterize the subset of patients with pancreatic cancer who might be candidates for non-surgical, local ablative interventions (for example, radiofrequency ablation). Radiofrequency ablation uses thermal energy to induce death of tumor cells and has been used to treat tumors in some organs. We are developing a prospective trial here at Emory which will use radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for pancreatic cancer. We are collaborating with Winship Cancer Institute to also study pre- and post-ablation pancreatic cancer biomarkers.

Our COVID-19 national registry project is aimed at having comprehensive understanding of the gastrointestinal and hepatological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2. This will have important implications in the care of affected patients and help inform public health initiatives to understand the infection and combat the pandemic.

What do you like most about Emory?
Emory is an institution of great academic opportunities, and is symbolic of rich diversity and inclusion. When I came to the USA after graduating from medical school back home, I joined Emory. Through Emory, I learned about the American culture and its people. I am very grateful to many people for being so welcoming to me and my family. Our division has a very pluralistic and collaborative environment with faculty, fellows, admin, staff, and our division director, Dr. Srinivasan, all being so encouraging and supportive.

What is your favorite movie or TV show?
‘Sherlock Holmes’ (binge watched). I also like ‘The Secret” on Netflix (a documentary film based on the role of positive thinking to achieve goals). Another of my favorites is a Hindi movie, ‘Taare Zameen Par’ (This is based on the story of a dyslexic child).

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love listening to music and playing board games.

What is a fun fact about you?
I am a complete foodie but a very bad cook.