“Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with five-year survival rates at less than seven percent and almost 50,000 new cases expected in 2015,” said Phillip A. Sharp, PhD, Nobel laureate, institute professor at the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and chair of the SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee. “At this time of unprecedented progress in cancer research and development of new cancer therapies, we are working hard to change the course of this terrible disease.”
Cancer Research UK, the largest charitable funder of cancer research in the world, supports a broad range of research to better understand, diagnose, prevent and treat all cancers. The transatlantic partnership between SU2C and Cancer Research UK launched in the United Kingdom in 2012. The UK SU2C campaign, a partnership between Cancer Research UK and UK broadcaster Channel 4, has since generated more than £23.8 million ($35 million) to accelerate ground-breaking cancer research. This will be the first Dream Team supported by the transatlantic partnership between SU2C and Cancer Research UK.
“Quite simply, we need to make faster progress against pancreatic cancer, which devastates tens of thousands of families across the world each year,” said Iain Foulkes, PhD, Cancer Research UK’s executive director for strategy and research funding. “Coming together in this way with SU2C and The Lustgarten Foundation is a signal of our intent. We will bring together the world's best scientists in a unique transatlantic partnership and over the next three years find new ways to beat this terrible disease.”
The Lustgarten Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing science related to the diagnosis, treatment, and cure of pancreatic cancer, will contribute about £3.9 million ($6 million) to support the new Dream Team. It will be the third Dream Team supported by the Foundation, bringing the total Lustgarten Foundation investment in SU2C's research program to £7.8 million ($12 million).
“We are pleased to again partner with SU2C for a third pancreatic cancer Dream Team and to newly partner with Cancer Research UK. Together, we will focus on new approaches to treat those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer so that more patients can benefit and live longer lives,” said Kerri Kaplan, executive director and chief operating officer of The Lustgarten Foundation, America’s largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research.
A Joint Scientific Advisory Committee (JSAC) will conduct a unique, interactive, rapid, and rigorous evaluation of the applications via a multistep scientific review process. The JSAC is composed of highly accomplished senior laboratory researchers and physician-scientists, as well as advocates.*
Inquiries may be directed to the AACR Scientific Review and Grants Administration Department at 267-765-1049 (00+1+267-765-1049 from the UK) or su2c@aacr.org. Applicants can also contact Cancer Research UK on su2c@cancer.org.uk. Grant recipients are scheduled to be announced in November 2015.