Grantees and scientific leadership celebrating at awards dinner

On the evening of Tuesday, April 4, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), in partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), celebrated four new 2017 research grantees who are undertaking novel pancreatic cancer research to improve patient outcomes.

The 2017 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – AACR Pathway to Leadership Grants are awards of up to a five-year duration totaling $600,000. These grants are designed to support the future leadership of pancreatic cancer research by funding outstanding early-career investigators in a postdoctoral, mentored research position and continuing through successful transition to independence. This year’s recipient is:

  • Luisa Escobar-Hoyos, MSc, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    “mRNA Splicing in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma”

The 2017 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – AACR Career Development Awards are two-year grants of $200,000 that are designed to attract and support early-career scientists as they conduct pancreatic cancer research and establish successful career paths in the field. This year’s recipients are:

  • Vinod Balachandran, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    “Characterization of the Antigen Landscape in Human Pancreatic Cancer”

  • Ingunn Stromnes, PhD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
    “Enhancing Efficacy of Engineered T Cell Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer”

  • Haoqiang Ying, MD, PhD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
    “The Regulation of Oncogene Addiction by YAP Pathway in Pancreatic Cancer”

 

Annual AACR Grants Reception and Dinner

The grantees were honored at a reception and dinner at the AACR Annual Meeting taking place this week in Washington, DC.  Our grant recipients were presented commemorative plaques and photographed with Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and Nancy Davidson, MD, AACR’s outgoing president.

“By recruiting the brightest scientists with the most innovative ideas, we continue to build a broad research community whose critical work in basic and translational research may foster clinical outcomes,” said Julie Fleshman. “This is a key part of our urgent mission and comprehensive strategy to accelerate research and double patient survival by 2020.”

“It’s always a pleasure for me to meet our outstanding new early-career grantees – I know they will be future leaders in the field,” Fleshman added.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s president and CEO, Julie Fleshman, with new grantees

Since 2003, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has awarded more than $36 million to support 146 grants to 147 promising scientists and researchers at 55 institutions across the country. This summer, additional 2017 grantees will be announced. Grant recipients are selected through a competitive peer-review process, and grantees receive professional support and mentorship in conjunction with their funding.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network relies on the generosity of committed partners to drive scientific innovation that improves outcomes for patients. Thank you for making this progress possible.

Learn more about our research grants and get involved!