Barbara Stulken Norquist, MD

Dr. Barbara Stulken Norquist received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Washington in 1999.  She then graduated with honors from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2004, and went on to a residency there in obstetrics and gynecology (2004 – 2008).  Following residency, she completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology (2008 – 2012).  She subsequently joined the faculty at the University of Washington in 2012 in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and is now an Assistant Professor.  Her clinical duties include the care of women with known or suspected gynecologic malignancies, but with an additional focus on those with genetic susceptibility to ovarian cancer.

Her previous research examined the molecular pathogenesis of ovarian cancer as well as secondary genetic changes within tumors that promote resistance to chemotherapy.  Her current research focus is on ovarian cancer genomics.  In collaboration with Dr. Elizabeth Swisher and Dr. Mary Claire King, she is utilizing massively parallel sequencing techniques in order to identify novel genes in ovarian cancer and to identify biomarkers of chemotherapy response.  She recently received a Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research Scientific Scholar Award to examine the emerging role of mutations in genes other than BRCA1 and BRCA2 in hereditary ovarian cancer.  Her goals are to identify improved strategies for the prevention and treatment of ovarian cancer through genetic biomarkers.