Eric Nakakura

Eric Nakakura is a gastrointestinal cancer surgeon and physician scientist at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, specializing in pancreatic, bile duct, liver, and GI tract tumors, including neuroendocrine carcinoid tumors. His groundbreaking 2017 $1.2M grant from the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation supports his work on small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs).

• Education: BS in Bioengineering from UC San Diego, MD from Stanford Medical School, PhD in Cellular/Molecular Medicine from Johns Hopkins

Research Focus: Dr. Nakakura investigates the molecular mechanisms of neuroendocrine tumors, aiming to improve early diagnosis, curative therapies, and metastatic disease management. His clinical expertise extends to soft tissue sarcomas and advanced surgical oncology.

Scientific Contributions: His publications (2023-2025) analyze pancreatic cancer treatment protocols, minimally invasive techniques, and machine learning applications in predicting postoperative complications. Key trends include neoadjuvant therapy optimization, circulating tumor DNA biomarkers, and multidisciplinary care for GI malignancies.

Awards & Honors:

• Phi Beta Kappa (1988)
• Magna Cum Laude (1990)
• American Heart Association Fellow (2000)
• George D. Zuidema Laboratory Research Award (2003)
• Excellence in Teaching Award (2009)