Bethany Hannafon, PhD

Bethany Hannafon, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Gynecologic Oncology at the Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). Dr. Hannafon earned a dual Ph. D. in the Program in Molecular Medicine and Cell and Molecular Biology from Boston University School of Medicine and completed postdoctoral training in cancer biology/pathology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and OUHSC.

Dr. Hannafons’ research aims to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive ovarian cancer development, progression, and therapeutic resistance and to discover novel treatment strategies to overcome resistance, prevent recurrences, and improve patient outcomes. Her recent efforts have focused on evaluating the role of doublecortin-like-kinase 1 (DCLK1) in promoting platinum resistance and cancer-stem-cell phenotypes in ovarian cancer. Novel treatment strategies, such as targeting DCLK1, that can overcome platinum resistance are urgently needed to reduce chemotherapy resistance and positively impact ovarian cancer patient outcomes.