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The End of Pancreatic Cancer Begins with Research . . .

Every day, nearly 600 people around the world lose their lives to pancreatic cancer - deadly statistics that haven't changed in more than three decades. Anyone affected by pancreatic cancer knows: losing just one more life is one too many.

Unfortunately, the number of new pancreatic cancer cases and the number of deaths caused by pancreatic cancer are increasing. Experts project that the incidence of pancreatic cancer will climb by an alarming 55 percent over the next two decades.

But there is hope. . .

The University of Michigan is home to world-leading research on pancreatic cancer. This work holds the promise to dramatically improve outcomes for patients.

U-M Pancreatic Cancer Research

Recent technological and scientific advancements have ushered in a new era of pancreatic cancer research, focused on identifying and treating the genetic underpinnings of the disease. A multidisciplinary team of scientists at the University of Michigan is leading the country in this groundbreaking work.

Our pancreatic cancer team is employing a multipronged research approach aimed at attacking the disease on all fronts, including:

• Developing the first reliable method to detect pancreatic cancer early, offering a simple blood test that could be used in clinics nationwide to test all at-risk populations.



• Identifying new drugs designed to eradicate pancreatic cancer stem cells, which were discovered by scientists at U-M and hold the key to understanding why the disease is so deadly.



• Conducting leading-edge molecular diagnostics, sequencing the entire genome of pancreas tumors to uncover the genetic underpinnings of cancer growth.



• Creating highly targeted therapies designed to immediately improve outcomes for patients diagnosed today.

For the first time in decades, U-M's pancreatic cancer research offers new hope to patients diagnosed with, or at high risk for, this devastating cancer.

How You Can Help

To support our team's pioneering research, and make marked progress on the disease over the next five years, the University of Michigan has established the Pancreatic Cancer Discovery Fund.

Unlike many other cancers, progress on pancreatic cancer has been stymied by limited funding.

Currently, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which is the largest government funding source for cancer research, allocates just 2% of its $5 billion annual budget for pancreatic cancer research.

And, private support for pancreatic cancer research currently pales in comparison to philanthropy targeted for the other top-five cancer killers: breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers.

To ensure U-M scientists have the resources they need to significantly, and rapidly, advance the field, the Pancreatic Cancer Discovery Fund has been established as a fully-expendable, research accelerator fund.

With your support, we can reach our $15 million goal by December 2012. Use our secure online donation form; or call 734-998-6893 to get more information.

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See Also:

• Stem Cells in Pancreatic Cancer
  
  
• Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
  
  
• Pancreatic Cancer Research
  
  
• Focused High-Dose Chemoradiation Protocol Offers More Time for Pancreatic Cancer Patients