Announcing the 2024 Lustgarten Equity, Accessibility, and Diversity (LEAD) Project Grant 

Fiyinfolu Balogun, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Awarded 2024 LEAD Project Grant  

WOODBURY, N.Y., May 30, 2024 — The Lustgarten Foundation has announced that the 2024 Lustgarten Equity, Accessibility, and Diversity (LEAD) Project grant will be awarded to Fiyinfolu Balogun, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, for his study “Investigating the molecular bases of pancreatic cancer disparities in underserved minority communities and increasing clinical trial recruitment employing linguistic intervention.” The LEAD Project aims to broaden inclusivity by actively recruiting and retaining patients from underrepresented minority groups in pancreatic cancer clinical trials. 

“I am grateful to the Lustgarten Foundation for their support of this project,” said Fiyinfolu Balogun, MD, PhD. “Pancreatic cancer is a particularly devastating disease, with higher incidence and mortality rates among minority communities. By diversifying our data and understanding the biological differences of the disease more deeply, we can develop more effective treatments.” 

Dr. Balogun and his collaborators will gain greater insight into the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer by broadening the population of patient samples for genomic studies to reflect the demographic spectrum of those affected by the disease. They plan to overcome barriers to trial enrollment by implementing language interventions, educational initiatives, and logistical support to facilitate participation. If successful, this research could uncover novel biology and mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer and generate data further supporting the need for inclusion in clinical trials and clinical research.  

The LEAD Project aims to broaden inclusivity by actively recruiting and retaining patients from underrepresented minority groups in pancreatic cancer clinical trials. Recipients are awarded $150,000 per year, for three years, per grant. 

“Pancreatic cancer affects populations differently, with significant variations in incidence and outcomes among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups,” said Linda Tantawi, CEO of the Lustgarten Foundation. “We are hopeful that research funded through the Lead Project, such as Dr. Balogun’s study, will bring us closer to addressing the needs of all patients.”