Washington University Pancreatic Cancer Program

Washington University SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer

NIH-funded research Washington University · NIH-11187256

New immune-focused and metabolism-targeting treatments for people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWashington University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Saint Louis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11187256 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

As a patient with pancreatic cancer, I would be part of a program at Washington University and partner sites testing immune-based and metabolic therapies specifically for PDAC. The program links three research projects that lead to investigator-initiated therapeutic trials, and it uses a biospecimen core to collect patient samples plus a biostatistics and bioinformatics core to analyze results. It also supports early-stage (developmental) studies and career development to bring promising ideas to clinical testing faster. Clinical care, genomics, and immune monitoring are used to personalize treatments and track responses.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who meet clinical trial eligibility at Washington University or participating centers would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without PDAC, those too frail or with medical conditions that exclude trial enrollment, or those who do not meet safety criteria may not benefit directly.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce new immune-based or metabolism-directed treatments that extend survival or improve quality of life for people with PDAC.

How similar studies have performed: Immune therapies for pancreatic cancer have been challenging, so these trials build on emerging and largely experimental approaches rather than on widely proven treatments.

Where this research is happening

Saint Louis, 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.
Conditions Cancer BiologyCancer CenterCancer Research ProgramsCancer Research ProjectCancers
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.