NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

PASSCODE: Coordinating and Sharing PDAC stromal research data

Official title: PASSCODE (Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Stromal Reprograming ConSortium COordination, Data Management and Education)

Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11413859 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A networked effort at NYU School of Medicine aims to study how the pancreatic cancer stroma shapes tumor growth and patient outcomes, by coordinating researchers, sharing data, and educating the field.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University School of Medicine
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project startSeptember 16, 2022
Project endAugust 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$993,577
NIH project number5U24CA274274-05
Project IDNIH-11413859 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or individuals contributing tissue or data for stromal research may be eligible through participating sites.

Less likely to help

The grant itself does not involve a new trial enrolling patients directly; benefits depend on subsequent therapies developed from stromal research.

What this research studies

This grant supports a center that coordinates six U01 sites studying the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer, focusing on cancer-associated fibroblasts, the extracellular matrix, and other stromal components. It will manage data, standardize methods, and facilitate collaboration to accelerate discoveries that could influence future treatments. Researchers will combine basic science with translational aims to better understand how stroma affects disease progression and response to therapy. Patients may benefit in the long term as insights from this work inform novel approaches to targeting the tumor environment in pancreatic cancer.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this effort could lead to new strategies that make pancreatic cancer more controllable by targeting the tumor stroma.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work indicates that the tumor stroma plays a critical role in PDAC biology and is a promising target for therapies; this program builds on that foundation with increased coordination and data sharing.

Where this research is happening

  • New York University School of Medicine
    New York, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Maitra, Anirban — New York University School of Medicine
  • Study coordinator: Maitra, Anirban

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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  • Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for Borderline or Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

    A multi-part treatment approach tests giving all chemotherapy and targeted radiotherapy before surgery to help patients with tough-to-remove pancreatic cancer become eligible for curative surgery.

    NIH research Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · New York, United States · NIH-11397470

  • Low-dose, motion-aware MRI to study pancreatic cancer

    A new MRI method using low-dose contrast and motion-resolved imaging is being explored to better characterize pancreatic cancer in patients.

    NIH research University of California Los Angeles · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11394353

  • SOAT1 as a target in pancreatic cancer

    Researchers are studying a specific enzyme, SOAT1, to see if blocking it can slow down or stop pancreatic cancer progression in models that mimic human disease.

    NIH research Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · Cold Spring Harbor, United States · NIH-11360158

  • Turning inflammatory scar cells in the pancreas into helpers to improve treatment response

    This project will try to change inflammatory, scar-forming cells around pancreatic tumors so treatments and the immune system can work better for people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11338560

  • Blocking cancer's iron supply to help pancreatic cancer drugs work better

    This project tests whether stopping pancreatic cancer cells from using stored iron can help people with KRAS-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma respond longer to new KRAS-targeting drugs.

    NIH research Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · Boston, United States · NIH-11311368

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.