Lustgarten Foundation to Commit $40 Million to Pancreatic Cancer Research in 2017-2018

Two Grant Programs Now Accepting Request for Applications

WOODBURY, New York (July 13, 2017) – The Lustgarten Foundation announced today that it will commit an unprecedented $40 million in 2017-18 through its new Translational Clinical Program, expanded Research Investigator Award Program and other partnerships. This is the first time any pancreatic cancer organization will commit that level of funding in a condensed period of time. As part of the Foundation’s research strategy, it will fund significant research projects in the areas of earlier detection, personalized medicine and developing new therapeutics with improved drug delivery.

“We have made tremendous progress in the basic science of pancreatic cancer. Scientific discoveries are making their way into the clinic which is why we need to increase our level of funding,” said David Tuveson, M.D., Ph.D., the Lustgarten Foundation’s Director of Research and Director of the Foundation’s dedicated research laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Dr. Tuveson is also the Director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center. “Our goal is to identify and fund significant researchers and research projects, clinical studies and trials that will lead to early diagnosis, improved and effective therapy, and ultimately a cure for pancreatic cancer.”

The Translational Clinical Program will identify and fund innovative, multi-institution translational research projects with the goal of improving the standard of care for all patients. The Research Investigator Awards will focus on funding the science underlying pancreatic cancer. Interested candidates for both programs are being asked to submit a letter of intent by August 11, 2017. Additional information, qualifications and requirements can be found at https://www.lustgarten.org/Grant-Programs

“As the leader in pancreatic cancer research, we will continue to support research that will deliver improved outcomes for patients,” said Robert F. Vizza, Ph.D., the Lustgarten Foundation’s Vice Chairman, Research. “We are optimistic that these programs will significantly increase the rate of surgery through earlier detection and improve the quantity and quality of life for patients in the near term.”