FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nearly $4.1 Million to Be Awarded in Pancreatic Cancer Research Funding

“Community for Progress” Established to Fight One of the Nation’s Deadliest Cancers

Manhattan Beach, CA—(August 26, 2014) The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will award $4.1 million in research funding through its 2015 Grants Program. An additional $2.3 million will be invested in the organization’s research initiatives, bringing the organization’s total commitment to research to $6.4 million, a 25 percent increase over last year.

“The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network boldly seeks to double pancreatic cancer survival by 2020, so research funding will be specifically allocated to support translational and clinical research that is poised to have an impact on patient care in the near future,” says Julie Fleshman, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “Equally important, we will continue to build the pipeline of scientists and clinical researchers focused on the disease and support basic science research through early-career funding opportunities.”

Research funding is available through five grant mechanisms this year, supporting postdoctoral and clinical fellows and junior and senior independent investigators conducting projects covering basic, translational and clinical research on pancreatic cancer. Recipients are chosen through a rigorous, competitive peer-review process to ensure the unbiased selection of the most meritorious research.

In addition to receiving financial support for their research, grantees participate in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Community for Progress, which provides opportunities for mentorship, training, networking and collaboration. Ongoing career support activities offer educational and professional development that helps keep the organization’s community of researchers committed and involved.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will again offer the highly coveted Research Acceleration Network (RAN) grant through its partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research. The RAN grant provides $1 million in funding to support team science and accelerate medical breakthroughs.

For the first time, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is joining forces with the National Cancer Institute Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research to offer a Fellowship Award to a postdoctoral or clinical fellow pursuing a research project to inhibit the activity of mutated KRAS proteins that are relevant to pancreatic cancer. This project will be linked to the National Cancer Institute’s RAS Program.

Since 2003, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has awarded 110 grants, totaling nearly $23 million in funding. For more information about the grants available, visit pancan.org/2015grants.

Pancreatic cancer is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and is anticipated to become the second leading cause by 2020. This year, more than 46,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and nearly 39,000 will die. There are no early detection tools and few effective treatment options. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is working to change the future of this disease.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. The organization is leading the way to increase the survival rate for people diagnosed with this devastating disease through a bold initiative — The Vision of Progress: Double Pancreatic Cancer Survival by 2020. Together, we can know, fight and end pancreatic cancer by intensifying our efforts to heighten awareness, raise funds for comprehensive private research and advocate for dedicated federal research to advance early diagnostics and better treatments and increase chances of survival.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY CONTACT:
Jennifer Rosen
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Direct: 310-706-3362
jrosen@pancan.org

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL THE PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK AT 877-272-6226 OR EMAIL INFO@PANCAN.ORG.