Susanne M. Gollin, <scp>PhD</scp>, Sept 22, 1953–April 6, 2025

Susanne M. Gollin, PhD, Professor Emerita of Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, succumbed peacefully at the age of 71 to metastatic breast cancer, ironically a disease she spent her career helping to understand and conquer. Dr. Gollin grew up in Lincolnwood, Illinois. She received her B.S. (1974), M.S. (1975), and Ph.D. (1980), all in Biological Sciences from Northwestern University. She was a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Genetics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and subsequently became a Research Associate in the Department of Cell Biology at Baylor College of Medicine. She obtained Board Certification as a clinical cytogeneticist and was a founding Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. Dr. Gollin began as an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas (1984–1987). In Little Rock, she met her future husband, Mr. Lazar Palnick, around a shared love of hockey. Dr. Gollin was recruited to the University of Pittsburgh in 1987 as an Assistant Professor of Human Genetics in the Graduate School of Public Health and a founding member of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. She served as Director of the Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratory and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Cytogenetics Facility. Dr. Gollin served on the faculty for over 30 years, rising to Professor Emerita in 2019. Dr. Gollin centered most of her career on the biological mechanisms for cancer proliferation via karyotyping cell lines from patients with head and neck cancer, childhood brain tumors, and breast cancer. Her laboratory developed over 50 human tumor cell lines that have been distributed to researchers worldwide. From over 130 journal articles, areas of focus included techniques for culturing cancer cells for cytogenetic analysis, gene amplification in the form of homogeneously staining regions via breakage-fusion-bridge cycles, chromosome instability and cytoskeletal defects in oral cancer, and the coexistence of chromosome alterations and human papilloma virus in oral cancer. Through her scientific work, she discovered and patented the observation that loss of specific genes (ATM) with parallel overexpression of other genes (including ATR and CHEK1) correlated with the development of cancer and resistance to treatment. Importantly, these discoveries showed that, when present, the defects could be used both prognostically and to guide alternative therapeutics. Dr. Gollin was passionate about her work, her students, and enhancing her professional and local communities. She was Vice Chair of the Allegheny County Board of Health and a member of the Pennsylvania Cancer Control, Prevention, and Research Program. She sat on the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee for the CDC and was a consultant for the FDA. She was a Founding Fellow of both the International Academy of Oral Oncology and the Indian Association of Molecular Pathologists. Dr. Gollin was a dedicated wife, mother, sister, researcher, teacher, and, especially, friend. Dr. Gollin was particularly supportive of those starting their careers and often referred to her trainees as her “kids.” Beyond science, together with her husband Lazar, she sought to make the world a more just place for all. Dr. Gollin was on the Boards of the Women's Law Project and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation. Her strength carried her through so many challenges and will always serve as an inspiration. We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Gollin's family on her passing. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors have nothing to report.