Personalized pancreatic cancer risk using medical records and genetics
Pancreatic Cancer Risk Prediction: Integrating Individual-Level Clinical and Genetic Data
This project combines health records and genetic information to find adults—especially Black adults and Veterans—who have a higher chance of pancreatic cancer so they can be monitored earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Connecticut Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11213945 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I were included, researchers would link my electronic health record and any available genetic data with large biobanks to look for patterns tied to pancreatic cancer. They will build computer algorithms that combine clinical risk factors (like age, diabetes, and smoking) with genetic risk scores drawn from diverse ancestral groups, with special attention to Black patients and Veterans. The team will test whether the combined clinical-genetic tool better flags people who should get earlier screening compared with current approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older—particularly Black individuals and U.S. Veterans with linked electronic health records and available genetic data—are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those without linked medical-record or genetic data, and patients whose risk is already determined by known hereditary syndromes may not gain benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify people at higher risk of pancreatic cancer sooner so they can get closer monitoring or earlier care.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier models using clinical factors or genetic risk scores have shown modest ability to predict pancreatic cancer, but combining large multi-ancestry genetic data with EHRs is a newer approach with promising potential.
Where this research is happening
West Haven, United States
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System — West Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Louise L — VA Connecticut Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Wang, Louise L
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 below.