Susan J. Hagen, PhD

Meet Dr. Susan Hagen, our Director of the Histology, Confocal Imaging, and Electron Microscopy (EM) Cores at BIDMC. Apart from overseeing the Histology Core, Dr. Susan Hagen also leads innovative research in her lab, focused on understanding how barrier dysfunction contributes to gastric cancer development during Helicobacter pylori infection. She employs genetic, advanced microscopy, and genomic approaches for her investigations, with dual goals of advancing basic science principles and translational applications. Key findings include the discovery of claudin-18 (CLDN18), a critical molecule in gastric health, and its role as both a signaling molecule and a potent gastric tumor suppressor. Dr. Hagen's work has accelerated our understanding of gastric cancer pathogenesis and potential treatment strategies. Additionally, she collaborates with experts, leveraging human pathology samples to identify gene-expression patterns related to CLDN18, with implications for biomarker development and therapeutic opportunities. In addition to her research, Dr. Hagen is dedicated to education and mentorship, contributing to the scientific community through presentations and mentorship programs.