Crystal Gann (BSN ’09) began her nursing career like many RNs – at the bedside. She worked as a travel nurse in emergency and operating rooms before finding a path beyond traditional nursing. Currently, Crystal works at Lucas Research in Morehead City, NC as a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator and is the only RN at the center. "I love the pace and the unusual challenges not presented by a typical nursing career," says Gann. 

Gann’s work has provided her with the experience to coordinate mRNA vaccine trials with Moderna, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes medication trials, and fatty liver and NASH Cirrhosis trials. She also teaches the center's new research staff clinical trial protocols and procedures. 

"The work I get to do contributes to the future of medicine and worldwide health care. It's pretty awesome."

Current Research

"I've been diligently preparing for an upcoming gene therapy study that, if successful, may allow people living with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia reduce their steroid doses or eventually allow them to stop taking steroids entirely," says Gann.