Alan Mizener
“The best part of what I do is the people that I get to work with. The WVU community is full of people who are passionate about improving health outcomes for the people of West Virginia. Working with such a dedicated team is inspiring and drives me to work diligently every day.”
Why did you choose to come to West Virginia University?
As a West Virginia native, I have long appreciated how WVU gives back to the Mountain State. Attending the WVU School of Medicine was my opportunity to serve West Virginia and my community as a Mountaineer. Since joining the WVU M.D./Ph.D. program in 2021, I have had the privilege of working with a team of health care professionals and researchers dedicated to providing high quality healthcare and advancing cutting-edge research for the people of West Virginia. The training I have received at WVU has been instrumental in shaping my career, providing me with the mentorship and resources to make a meaningful impact in my field.
What’s the best thing about doing what you do?
The best part of what I do is the people that I get to work with. The WVU community is full of people who are passionate about improving health outcomes for the people of West Virginia. Working with such a dedicated team is inspiring and ultimately drives me to work diligently every day.
How do you contribute to and enhance the student experience?
As a student, I strive to take on leadership roles. To date, I have served on the school’s M.D. Curriculum Committee, M.D./Ph.D. Admissions Committee, as a Problem Based Learning course facilitator and as a Student Ambassador. Through these roles, I have worked to strengthen student advocacy, enhance educational experiences and mentor younger students as they navigate medical and graduate training.
What are your aspirations while at WVU?
My current Ph.D. project focuses on using samples and data from an on-going phase 2 clinical trial, which aims to repurpose the diabetes drug pioglitazone as a treatment for breast cancer associated fatigue. Contributing to this research has been incredibly fulfilling, as it has the potential to improve quality of life for millions of cancer patients. Preliminary results from this trial look promising, and it would be extremely rewarding to see this work advance to a phase 3 clinical trial before I complete my training at WVU.
Tell us something unique about you that others may not know.
My passion for learning extends far beyond my professional life, and I have always enjoyed picking up new hobbies and skills as a result. Over the years, I have self-taught skills in coding, computer building, drone flying and 3D model design. For me, the most enjoyable part of any project is always learning something new and getting a little bit smarter in the process. I find that this passion for continuous learning also enhances my approach to research and medicine—whether it’s troubleshooting an experiment or figuring out a tricky diagnosis, I enjoy tackling challenges with a problem-solving mindset.
Why did you choose your field? Does it have any special significance for West Virginia?
I chose to study molecular biology and cancer informatics because I believe these fields will benefit from some of the greatest advancements during my career. As molecular and bioinformatic technologies improve, we learn more and more about cancer every day, aiding in the development of ever better treatments for this complex disease. With West Virginia having the 3rd highest age-adjusted cancer incidence rate in the country, I am dedicated to using my training to help uncover new ways to diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent cancer for the people of this great state.