PanCAN Funds Innovative Scientists through Research Grants Program

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) continues to advance research for the world's toughest cancer through its competitive Research Grants Program. Since 2003, PanCAN and its charitable donors have invested more than $48 million to help advance the field of pancreatic cancer research, a significant portion through its Research Grants Program. Research is necessary to understand the biology of the disease and to develop improved early detection tools and better treatment options for patients. In total, PanCAN has awarded 168 grants to 167 scientists at 62 institutions.

"Our grants program is critical to meeting our urgent mission to improve pancreatic cancer patient outcomes," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, PanCAN's president and CEO. "An analysis of the grants we awarded from 2003 to 2015 showed the grantees we invested in were able to secure more than $11 for each dollar we funded, which has provided them a jump start to expand their critical research efforts."

This year, PanCAN awarded nine grants to 12 researchers at 11 institutions in the U.S., Canada and France, totaling $4.2 million. Recipients were selected through a competitive peer-review process.

The 2018 PanCAN research grantees are:

• Andrew Aguirre, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, funded in memory of Skip Viragh
• Darren Richard Carpizo, MD, PhD, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• Iok In Christine Chio, PhD, Columbia University Medical Center
• Michael Curran, PhD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Sharon Gorski, PhD, British Columbia Cancer Agency Branch
• Scott Lowe, PhD, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
• Karen Marie Mann, PhD, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, funded in memory of Skip Viragh
• George Miller, MD, New York University School of Medicine
• Kenneth Shroyer, MD, PhD, Stony Brook University

"The need for continued research funding, both public and private, is urgent, as pancreatic cancer patients have the lowest five-year survival rate of any major cancer — just 9 percent," explained Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA, chief science officer at PanCAN. "Pancreatic cancer is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States around 2020. Collaborative research efforts provide the greatest hope for improving pancreatic cancer outcomes."

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world's toughest cancer. In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve patient outcomes today and to double survival by 2020.