MD
Assistant Professor, Medicine-Oncology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Clinical Research
Gastrointestinal Oncology Program, UNC Lineberger Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence
Area of Interest
I take care of patients with GI cancers including gastroesophageal, hepatopancreatobiliary, intestinal, and colorectal cancers. I have a particular interest in translational tumor immunology and early phase clinical trial development, especially in pancreatic cancer.
Awards and Honors
- UNC Lineberger Development Award, 2023
- Pancreatic SPORE CEP Award, 2023
- Hillman Development Award, 2020
- Fund for Innovation in Cancer Informatics Award, 2019
- Immuno-Oncology Young Investigator’s Forum (IOYIF) 1st Place Clinical Fellow Award, 2019
- IASLC Young Investigator Award Grant News and Stories, 2019
- AAI Young Investigator Best Oral Presentation Award, 2019
- IASLC Best Fellows’ Abstract Oral Presentation Award, 2019
- Eden Hall Foundation Award, 2018
- SITC Young Investigator Abstract Travel Award, 2018
- AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop, 2017
Gastrointestinal oncologist discusses increase in younger patients with colorectal cancer
The rise of colorectal cancer cases in people under 45 has steadily increased, prompting concern among oncologists and researchers. Ashwin Somasundaram, MD, talks about colorectal cancer and this concerning trend.
Immunotherapy and targeted therapy combination proves effective against metastatic colorectal cancer
UNC Lineberger researchers have demonstrated that combining two immunotherapy drugs with a targeted therapy drug proved effective in treating the most common form of metastatic colorectal cancer.
