Get informed about the latest pancreatic cancer research advancements and milestones, Lustgarten Foundation news, and other relevant topics
and resources for patients, survivors, and caregivers.
Lustgarten’s 21 Transformations of 2021
by Linda Tantawi Before we officially close the books on 2021—and my first year as CEO of the Lustgarten Foundation—I want to take a few moments to reflect on all we’ve accomplished in the last 12 months. 2021 was an exciting—and busy!—year of change, growth and transformation. And we did it all together. We know [...]
LustgartenLIVE! Best of 2021: Research Highlights
It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year—a time to reflect on the last 12 months and recognize our accomplishments; and to build momentum and excitement for the work ahead. We often proclaim, “pancreatic cancer research is progressing faster than ever,” and it remains true. Like the proverbial snowball barreling down the mountainside, the [...]
Led By Lustgarten: How Research Impacts Patient Care
by Kerri Kaplan Lustgarten was founded on the principle that funding innovative, cutting-edge research is the only way to improve patient outcomes and ultimately turn pancreatic cancer into a curable disease. Dr. Joseph Herman, Vice Chair of Clinical Informatics for Radiation Medicine and Director of Clinical Research Integration at Northwell Health, joined Lustgarten’s Vice President [...]
Where is the Pancreas Located? And Other Questions I Never Asked Before
by Meghan Von Elm Human beings are more familiar with some bodily organs than others. When asked where their brain is, they point to their head. When asked where their heart is, they point to their chest. But ask an adult to point to their pancreas and, at best, they’ll make a vague reference to [...]
Earlier Detection – Led By Lustgarten
Lustgarten Foundation-funded science has been a driving force in every major advancement in pancreatic research. We can confidently claim this because the Foundation played a pivotal role in funding the basic science of pancreatic cancer and laid the groundwork for research to follow, including studies on earlier detection. One such Lustgarten-funded study was a 2007 [...]
Accelerating the Pace of Discovery…From Laboratory to Bedside
By Kerri Kaplan As the world’s primary catalyst for pancreatic cancer research, the Lustgarten Foundation funds critical research projects where creative risks yield high rewards. Lustgarten is driving forward basic science that is being translated into potentially life-saving treatment options via the Robert F. Vizza Lustgarten Clinical Accelerator Initiative. Drs. Tyler Jacks and Brian Wolpin, [...]
Expanding the Pipeline of Discovery and Advancing the Development of New Therapies
By Ellen Zimmerman The Therapeutics-Focused Research Program will advance the understanding of the causes and progression of pancreatic cancer and will identify new potential therapies. This grant program will stimulate research to stretch the limits of our current understanding of pancreatic cancer treatment; promote collaboration; and identify novel therapeutic approaches and drug targets. Fifty proposals [...]
Lustgarten-funded Research Leads to Promising New Treatment
New combination of three existing immunotherapy drugs may eliminate pancreatic tumors By Stephanie Elsea When it comes to fighting and destroying infected or diseased cells, T cells are the heroes. The body’s front line of defense, T cells are like soldiers deployed at the first sign of trouble to attack and block cancer cells. But like any hero, T cells can grow tired and lose effectiveness over time. That process is known as exhaustion. Every good military needs a general to determine [...]
Personalized Medicine: Transforming Treatment Inside the Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Lab at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
By Kerri Kaplan Score! As hockey teams from the United States and Canada faced off recently to compete for the famed Stanley Cup, the leading cancer organizations in the US and Canada—the Lustgarten Foundation, Stand Up to Cancer, and Pancreatic Cancer Canada team up to fund a breakaway clinical trial to assist and save pancreatic [...]
A Juneteenth Conversation:
Health Disparities in Pancreatic Cancer
By Kerri Kaplan On the heels of Juneteenth being named a federal holiday, Avery Posey, PhD, the inaugural recipient of the Lustgarten Foundation Career Development Award honoring Congressman John R. Lewis gave an excellent talk on the importance of health equity in pancreatic cancer research and treatment. Black people and African Americans experience both higher incidence and death rates from pancreatic cancer than other populations. There are a variety of causes of health disparities, including behavioral and lifestyle [...]
