March, 2009

Dear Friends,

Much has been going on in the pancreatic cancer scientific community and we wanted to bring you an update on some exciting research news, as well as introduce you to our new Research Program Manager.

Breaking News:  Studies Supported by The Lustgarten Foundation Yield Breakthrough Insights

Two exciting studies that were funded in part by The Lustgarten Foundation were published this month.  The studies are advancing the fields of sporadic pancreatic cancer (where there is no genetic link) and familial pancreatic cancer (the form of the disease that runs in families).  The first study from the University of Michigan found a gene in 90% of pancreatic cancers that causes the disease to be more aggressive and resistant to therapy.  Now that this gene has been identified, scientists can use this information to develop new cancer treatments.  The second study from Johns Hopkins University identified a gene that is altered in familial pancreatic cancers.  This discovery will give scientists and clinicians a better tool to predict and monitor people with a family history of pancreatic cancer.

Read the Press Release 

Lustgarten Foundation Funds Research to Develop Pancreatic Cancer Blood Test

The Lustgarten Foundation recently awarded $825,000, payable over three years, to Dr. Bert Vogelstein, who will work to develop a blood test that can be used to detect pancreatic cancer before it causes symptoms (when it is potentially curable).  Dr. Vogelstein is the Johns Hopkins investigator who led the Pancreatic Cancer Genome Project.  In this new study, Dr. Vogelstein is using state-of-the-art technology developed in his laboratory, which has been successfully used to detect colon cancer genes in patients and could lead to a screening test for pancreatic cancer.

Annual Grant Awards

The Foundation recently awarded eight one-year, $100,000 research grants.  These annual grants allow the best and brightest investigators to bring us their most promising ideas.

View 2009 Awards Listing

Focused Research Projects

In 2009, the Foundation launched new focused research projects in two important areas: The first builds upon the findings of the Lustgarten-sponsored Pancreatic Cancer Genome Project by focusing on genetic changes in early pancreatic cancer.  Identifying these changes opens the door to developing earlier detection screening methods and more effective, targeted cancer therapies. A second area of research harnesses the power of the internet to create a database for pancreatic cancer results.  As research on pancreatic cancer builds momentum, critical information is being generated and The Lustgarten Foundation will sponsor the creation of a website that contains comprehensive and most up-to-date information about pancreatic cancer. Awards will be announced later this year.

Welcome, Mila McCurrach!

The Lustgarten Foundation is pleased to welcome Mila E. McCurrach as Research Program Manager.  With Cablevision's commitment to underwrite all of the Foundation's administrative expenses and ensure that 100% of donations go directly to research, The Foundation plans to significantly increase its research budget over the next several years.  Mila will be instrumental in helping us expand our focused research strategy, which includes finding better methods for early detection therapies to treat pancreatic cancer. More About Mila

Sincerely,

 

Kerri Kaplan
Executive Director