Susan Lutgendorf

Susan Lutgendorf is a Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa. She holds the Dewey B. Stuit Professorship and specializes in clinical science, focusing on psychoneuroimmunology, psycho-oncology, and stress management interventions for chronic illness.

• Education: Ph.D. from the University of Miami (1994)
• Key Research Areas: Biobehavioral pathways in cancer, neuroendocrine dynamics, stress modulation of tumor biology

Her work examines how psychosocial factors influence cancer progression and survivorship, with particular emphasis on ovarian cancer, cortisol dysregulation, and mindfulness-based interventions. Recent publications highlight rural-urban disparities in cancer outcomes, oxytocin signaling in tumors, and exosome transcriptome modulation by stress.

She leads the Lutgendorf Lab and has mentored numerous graduate students and researchers on topics related to biobehavioral oncology and psychosocial resilience. Her affiliations include the Iowa Neuroscience Institute and the Behavioral-Biomedical Interface Training Program.