PanCAN Scientific Summit 2023
September 26 & 27 | Boston
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
For questions, please contact scientificsummit@pancan.org
Driving Research, Inspiring Hope
PanCAN brings together a robust research community through our Community for Progress. These scientists, clinicians, industry partners, donors and patients are leading the way to improve outcomes and change lives. Together, we are making a difference in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Join us in Boston for PanCAN Scientific Summit 2023! We are offering an exciting program to our Community for Progress. You’ll have the opportunity to:
- Meet our new PanCAN research grant recipients
- Learn more about our top research priorities, including advancing treatment options and early detection strategies for patients
- Hear from PanCAN’s young investigators as well as senior research grant recipients, engage in discussion and build collaboration
- Meet patient research advocates, colleagues and industry partners who share a common goal to make a difference in the fight against pancreatic cancer
When the Summit ends, we hope you stay in Boston to attend the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference: Pancreatic Cancer.
Thank you for joining us as we work towards achieving a bold goal: A 5-year pancreatic cancer survival rate of 20% by 2030. Your dedication to this community and your passion for this work make all the difference.
*Attire: Business / Business Casual / Wear Your Purple!
Registration is now closed.
For questions, please contact scientificsummit@pancan.org
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
All Times Eastern
5:30 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.
PanCAN Scientific and Medical Advisory Board Reception (invite only)
Strega Restaurant, Wine Room
6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
General Reception and Poster Session
Terrace Room, Lower Level
Welcome Remarks
Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, PanCAN President and CEO
Poster Session
2022 Class of Career Development Awards
The role of PP2A in regulating pancreatic cancer macropinocytosis
Brittany Allen-Petersen, PhD, Purdue University
Grant funded by The Rockhammer Charitable Fund
A novel mechanism of MDSC-mediated stromal and T-cell dysregulation
Jashodeep Datta, MD, University of Miami
Grant funded by an anonymous donor
KRAS G12R metabolic reprogramming alters therapeutic sensitivity
G. Aaron Hobbs, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina
Grant funded in memory of Skip Viragh
Immunobiological factors associated with pancreatic cancer disparities
Janielle Maynard, PhD, Johns Hopkins University of School of Medicine
Grant funded by the Chrysalis Fund at the Ventura County Community Foundation
Neuronal checkpoint signaling in pancreas cancer pain
Jami Saloman, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Grant funded in memory of Skip Viragh
Exploiting the gut microbiome to improve therapy response in PDAC
Rahul Shinde, PhD, The Wistar Institute
Grant funded by an anonymous donor
Fibrosis-mediated transformation in pancreatic cancer risk factors in vitro
Catherine Whittington, PhD, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
2022 Therapeutic Accelerator Award and Therapeutic Accelerator Collaborative Awards
Clinical update and translational studies for the phase 1/2 trial of VS-6766 + Defactinib and GEM + Nab-P in metastatic PDAC
Louis Denis, MD, and Jonathan Pachter, PhD, Verastem Oncology
Grant supported by 1440 Foundation, the Gail V. Coleman-Kenneth M. Bruntel Research Fund, and Lyda Hill Philanthropies
The RAF/MEK clamp avutometinib as the backbone of therapy for pancreatic cancer: Novel combinations with standard of care chemotherapy, FAK inhibitors, KRAS G12D inhibitors and/or autophagy inhibitors
Kirsten Bryant, PhD, and Channing Der, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Therapeutic Accelerator Collaborative Award funded in memory of Llewellyn Bixby IV through a gift made by his family
David DeNardo, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis
Jonathan Pachter, PhD, Verastem Oncology
Therapeutic Accelerator Award supported by 1440 Foundation, the Gail V. Coleman-Kenneth M. Bruntel Research Fund, and Lyda Hill Philanthropies
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
7:30 — 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast
Terrace Room, Lower Level
8:30 a.m. — 3:30 p.m.
Scientific Sessions
The Square, Lobby Level
8:30 — 8:35 a.m.
Welcome
Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA
Eileen O’Reilly, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Chair, PanCAN Scientific and Medical Advisory Board
8:35 — 9:05 a.m.
PanCAN State of the Union and Welcome 2023 Class of Grantees
Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA
9:05 — 9:50 a.m.
Early Detection
Session Facilitator: Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA, PanCAN Chief Science Officer
Early Detection Initiative updates
Suresh Chari, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Study PI
New models for the early detection of pancreatic cancer: EDI ancillary studies
Wansu Chen, PhD, MS, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group
9:50 — 10:20 a.m.
Health Data
Session Facilitator: Sudheer Doss, PhD, PanCAN Chief Business Officer
Revolutionizing Pancreatic Cancer Drug Discovery and Development with Multi-Omic Patient Data and Digital Twins – The Promise of the PanCAN and Aitia Partnership
Colin Hill, MS, CEO and Co-Founder, Aitia
10:20 — 10:35 a.m.
Break
10:35 a.m. — 12:15 p.m.
2021 Career Development Awards
Session Facilitators: Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, Eileen O’Reilly, MD
Hnf1b defines an epigenetic ontology of human pancreatic cancer
Rohit Chandwani, MD, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine
Grant funded by The Jim & Shirley Young Family Foundation
Metabolic link to immunosuppressive fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer
Ralph Francescone, PhD, Henry Ford Health System
Grant funded in memory of Skip Viragh
Targeting BARD1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Aditi Jain, PhD, Thomas Jefferson University
Dissecting malignant evolution unleashed by p53 inactivation in PDAC
John P. Morris IV, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Grant funded in memory of Skip Viragh
Developing engineered proteins to enhance adoptive cell therapy of PDA
Shannon Oda, PhD, Seattle Children’s Research Institute
Grant funded by Linda E. Amuso in memory of Susan A. Lombardi
12:15 — 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
Terrace Room, Lower Level
1:05 — 3:20 p.m.
Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Approaches
1:05 — 2:25 p.m.
Translational Research Grants
Session Facilitators: Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, Eileen O’Reilly, MD
Targeting DDX5/p68 with FL118 as a therapeutic approach for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
Fengzhi Li, PhD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Grant extension funded by Kenneth D. Custance and Gladys C. Custance, honoring the memory of Martha 'Molly' Reed Woodroofe
Immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer by saposin C-based nanovesicles
Xiaoyang Qi, PhD, University of Cincinnati
Grant extension funded by Kenneth D. Custance and Gladys C. Custance, honoring the memory of Martha 'Molly' Reed Woodroofe
Exploiting a metabolic vulnerability created by epigenetic therapy
Susan Bates, MD, Columbia University Medical Center
Grant extension funded by Kenneth D. Custance and Gladys C. Custance, honoring the memory of Martha 'Molly' Reed Woodroofe
2:25 — 3:20 p.m.
Precision Medicine Targeted Grant and Therapeutic Accelerator Award
Session Facilitator: Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA
Multiplex tissue-based assays and analytical tools for pancreatic cancer
Precision Medicine Targeted Grant
Gregory Beatty, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
2022 grant extension funded by Leslie Gaynor in memory of Phyllis Bolotin
TBD
2023 Therapeutic Accelerator Award
Grant supported in memory of Skip Viragh
3:20 — 3:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Eileen O’Reilly, MD, Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA
3:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Coffee Social/Networking Hour
Library, Lobby Level
LOCATION
50 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116
PARKING
Attendees wishing to park at the hotel should utilize valet parking and inform the attendant that they are part of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network group. PanCAN will cover the cost of valet parking. The valet parking entrance is located at 34 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02116.

Suresh Chari, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Affiliation: Early Detection Initiative, Study PI
Topic: Early Detection Initiative updates and the REGARD ancillary studies

Wansu Chen, PhD, MS
Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group
Affiliation: Early Detection Initiative
Topic: New models for the early detection of pancreatic cancer: EDI ancillary studies

Colin Hill, MS
Aitia
Affiliation: Health Data
Topic: Revolutionizing Pancreatic Cancer Drug Discovery and Development with Multi-Omic Patient Data and Digital Twins – The Promise of the PanCAN and Aitia Partnership

Rohit Chandwani, MD, PhD
Weill Cornell Medicine
Grant: 2021 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Career Development Award, funded by The Jim & Shirley Young Family Foundation
Topic: Hnf1b defines an epigenetic ontology of human pancreatic cancer

Ralph Francescone, PhD
Henry Ford Health System
Grant: 2021 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Career Development Award, funded in memory of Skip Viragh
Topic: Metabolic link to immunosuppressive fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer

Aditi Jain, PhD
Thomas Jefferson University
Grant: 2021 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Career Development Award
Topic: Targeting BARD1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

John P. Morris IV, PhD
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Grant: 2021 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Career Development Award, funded in memory of Skip Viragh
Topic: Dissecting malignant evolution unleashed by p53 inactivation in PDAC

Shannon Oda, PhD
Seattle Children’s Research Institute
Grant: 2021 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Career Development Award, funded by Linda E. Amuso in memory of Susan A. Lombardi
Topic: Developing engineered proteins to enhance adoptive cell therapy of PDA

Fengzhi Li, PhD
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Grant: 2020 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Translational Research Grant, extension funded by Kenneth D. Custance and Gladys C. Custance, honoring the memory of Martha 'Molly' Reed Woodroofe
Topic: Targeting DDX5/p68 with FL118 as a therapeutic approach for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)

Xiaoyang Qi, PhD
University of Cincinnati
Grant: 2020 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Translational Research Grant, extension funded by Kenneth D. Custance and Gladys C. Custance, honoring the memory of Martha 'Molly' Reed Woodroofe
Topic: Immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer by saposin c-based nanovesicles

Susan Bates, MD
Columbia University Medical Center
Grant: 2020 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Translational Research Grant, extension funded by Kenneth D. Custance and Gladys C. Custance, honoring the memory of Martha 'Molly' Reed Woodroofe
Topic: Exploiting a metabolic vulnerability created by epigenetic therapy

Gregory Beatty, MD, PhD
University of Pennsylvania
Grant: 2017 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Precision Medicine Targeted Grant, 2022 Grant Extension funded by Leslie Gaynor in memory of Phyllis Bolotin
Topic: Multiplex tissue-based assays and analytical tools for pancreatic cancer

Thomas Heineman, MD, PhD
Oncolytics Biotech, Inc.
Grant: 2023 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Therapeutic Accelerator Award, supported in memory of Skip Viragh
Topic: Pelareorep + mFOLFIRINOX +/- atezolizumab for the treatment of 1L mPDAC
Please check back following the conference for attendee contact information.

THANK YOU
We're looking forward to seeing you at PanCAN Scientific Summit 2022 on September 12 & 13 in Boston, MA