Improving Early PDAC Detection Using Electronic Medical Records
Official title: Developing methods for advancing the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma leveraging electronic medical records data
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11399853 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-centered approach to use electronic health records to spot signs of pancreatic cancer early, especially in people with new or changing blood sugar levels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $674,211 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA289668-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399853 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with new or changing diabetes or prediabetes, weight changes, and other risk factors identified through EMR data.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without risk signals or with conditions not linked to PDAC may not gain direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This project aims to translate how EMR data can be used in everyday clinical care to catch pancreatic cancer earlier. Researchers will analyze patterns like weight change and blood glucose trends to identify those at higher risk and test how an ENPAC-style score could be used in real clinics. The work envisions integrating risk signals into EMRs so doctors can consider earlier testing or referrals. The study is designed to inform future screening strategies that could lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could enable earlier testing and faster treatment for people at risk of PDAC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous EMR-based approaches have shown promise in highlighting higher PDAC risk among people with new-onset diabetes; this work builds on that foundation.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Yingqi — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Yingqi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.