Making pancreatic cancer early by intercepting the disease before it progresses
Official title: Changing the natural history of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with cancer interception strategies
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11366831 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researchers are testing strategies to catch and stop pancreatic cancer early, aiming to prevent it from becoming deadly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $658,033 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA303474-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366831 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with high risk for pancreatic cancer who harbor precursors like PanINs or IPMNs may be eligible for future interception approaches.
✕Less likely to help
People without identified precursor lesions or those not at high risk may not benefit from interception strategies.
What this research studies
This grant explores cancer interception for pancreatic cancer, focusing on high-risk individuals to interrupt the disease at its earliest precursors. The approach builds on lessons from colon and cervical cancer prevention by targeting early pancreatic lesions such as PanINs and IPMNs. Researchers plan translational strategies that could be moved into clinical care if successful, aiming to reduce later-stage diagnoses and improve survival. The work combines biological studies with plans to translate promising ideas into patient-facing interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to earlier intervention options and lower death rates from pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Early interception ideas have shown success in other cancers like colon and cervix, but interception for pancreatic cancer is still at an exploratory stage.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stanger, Ben Z — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Stanger, Ben Z
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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.