Biography

Robert Duran is an eight year stage four pancreatic cancer survivor and a husband and father of two children. He enjoys spending time with his family hiking and exploring new trails, classic car restoration, and getting out for early morning drives along the coast in Southern California. In his professional career as a member of the cyber security community, Robert helps cybercrime super heroes make the Internet a safer place.


Robert is also an avid cyclist and nicknamed by a few doctors and nurses as “The Cyclist” because during treatment, he would ride 50-100 miles per week with some of the miles riding to and from chemo at UC San Diego Health (UCSD). 


When Robert was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in 2014, he was told to get his affairs in order because at that time the 5-year survival rate was only 6% – which is why Pancreatic Cancer is also known as the ‘King of All Cancers’. 


Throughout the past eight years, Robert has gone through multiple chemo treatments, radiation, clinical trials, surgeries, complications and recoveries, so his cancer has not only been a big part of his life, but it’s also what his kids have known for most of their lives. Robert married Liz Duran in Santa Barbara, CA in 2005. 

Cycling has kept Robert alive throughout his battle with pancreatic cancer and he has been lucky enough to be one of the first in the US to undergo a new cutting edge treatment called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. CAR T-Cell Therapy is a new cancer immunotherapy involving the genetic modification of his own T-cells to activate his immune system to recognize and destroy his cancer.  

Robert has learned a lot about himself throughout his journey. He has met many people along the way including pancreatic cancer patients and those experiences gives him the strength and motivation to share his story of hope. Hope that one day, there will be a cure.

Robert volunteers his time with PanCAN to create a world in which all patients with pancreatic cancer will thrive. Together, their mission is to take bold action to improve the lives of everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer by advancing scientific research, building community, sharing knowledge, and advocating for patients.


As part of Robert’s affiliation with PanCAN, he participates in the annual PurpleStride event to raise awareness and critical funds to end pancreatic cancer. In 2022, Robert and his team raised just under $30K in one month on behalf of PanCAN’s annual PurpleStride San Diego walk to end pancreatic cancer and Robert was the #1 top individual fundraiser for San Diego.