Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Funds $4.75 Million Of Innovative Research Through 2020 Competitive Grants Program

Choice of Funding Start Dates Provides New Grantees Support and Flexibility in the Midst of Coronavirus Pandemic

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Jun 30, 2020, 08:00 ET

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., June 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), a leading patient advocacy organization, announced today the recipients of its 2020 research grants and grant extensions. This year, 10 grants are being newly awarded and five previously funded grants are being extended. As such, PanCAN's total research investment in fiscal year 2020 is $21 million with $4.75 million toward competitive grants, bringing the organization's total projected research investment, including its grants program and clinical and scientific initiatives, to approximately $126 million.

PanCAN is funding $4.75 million worth of competitive grants in 2020. The organization's total research investment for this fiscal year amounts to $21 million.

"Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and diagnoses continue to rise," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of PanCAN. "Research is key as we fight to improve patient outcomes, and we are so grateful to our generous donors who allow us to fund this important science."

The following researchers are recipients of PanCAN grants this year:

Susan Bates, MD, Columbia University
Daria Esterházy, PhD, University of Chicago
Gillian Gresham, PhD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, funded in memory of Skip Viragh
Fengzhi Li, PhD, Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Alexander Muir, PhD, University of Chicago
Kenneth Olive, PhD, Columbia University
Krushana Patra, PhD, University of Cincinnati
Xiaoyang Qi, PhD, University of Cincinnati
Mustafa Raoof, MD, FACS, City of Hope, funded in memory of Skip Viragh
Jill Smith, MD, Georgetown University

In addition to the new 2020 funding, PanCAN and its scientific reviewers have also awarded five grant extensions to previously funded investigators to continue their highly promising projects. Extension recipients include:

Darren Carpizo, MD, PhD, University of Rochester
Nicholas Cosford, PhD, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Sharon Gorski, PhD, British Columbia Cancer Agency Branch
Sunil Hingorani, MD, PhD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Wantong Yao, MD, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Of the newly awarded grants, this year's recipients include eight first-time PanCAN grantees and three new institutions. Five grants awarded support projects led by early-career researchers, helping them further establish themselves in order to secure funding from other sources in the future. The other five grantees received translational grants, which support projects aiming to take important discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic for patient benefit. All grantees and extensions were selected through an open and highly competitive, peer-review process.

Like much of the world, the pancreatic cancer research community has been heavily affected this year due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and resulting global pandemic. In many instances, laboratories were forced to shut their doors costing investigators precious resources, progress and – most importantly – time. The impact has been especially challenging for early-career investigators who don't yet have robust foundational data and experimental results to build from.

To help solve for this, for the first time ever, PanCAN has offered a flexible start date to allow grantees time to prepare their labs and teams before undertaking the experiments they proposed for their PanCAN research grant. Recipients were given the option to initiate their funded period on July 1, marking the beginning of PanCAN's fiscal year, or to postpone their start date until September or even January 2021. In addition, PanCAN is allowing flexibility with reporting deadlines and other requirements for active grantees.

"We realize this is an extremely difficult time to be running a lab, so we are taking measures to support our grantees however we can," said Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA, chief science officer at PanCAN. "Even in the midst of a pandemic, pancreatic cancer does not slow down or stop, and the research our grantees are conducting is more important than ever."

Since 2003, PanCAN's grants program has awarded 199 grants to 187 scientists at 71 institutions. Beyond research funding, grant recipients also gain access to PanCAN's Community for Progress, a cohesive network of researchers focused on improving pancreatic cancer patient outcomes through mentorship and collaboration.

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 outcomes for today's patients and those diagnosed in the future.

Learn more at pancan.org. Follow the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Media Contact:
Jillian Scholten
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Direct: 310-706-3360
Cell: 949-244-2561
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network