Early detection network for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic Cancer Detection Consortium

NIH-funded research University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11163261

This project looks for blood and imaging signs to catch pancreatic cancer earlier in people at higher risk.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Omaha, United States)
Project IDNIH-11163261 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would give blood and share clinical information every six months so researchers can track changes over time. The team collects large blood samples and rare tissue from early pancreatic lesions to search for markers in blood and imaging that signal problems before cancer develops. Enrollment focuses on people with inherited risk (known gene changes or strong family history) and others at increased risk like those with pancreatic cysts, chronic pancreatitis, or new-onset diabetes. The goal is to discover and confirm tests that could tell which early lesions are likely to become cancer.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people at higher risk for pancreatic cancer, such as those with known germline mutations, a strong family history, pancreatic cystic lesions, chronic pancreatitis, or recent-onset diabetes.

Not a fit: People without known risk factors for pancreatic cancer or those unwilling to provide regular blood samples and clinical information are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable earlier detection of pancreatic cancer, giving patients a better chance for curative treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Related blood- and image-based biomarker efforts have shown promising signals but so far have not produced a widely adopted early screening test for pancreatic cancer.

Where this research is happening

Omaha, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.