Pancreatic Cancer SPORE Grant

Current Award: $11.5 million over five years — September 2008 - August 2013
Prior Award: $10.7 million over five years — August 2003 - July 2008
Principal Investigator: Gloria M. Petersen, Ph.D.

Mayo Clinic SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is one of four cancer centers to receive a Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant for pancreatic cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Patients with cancers of the pancreas have a particularly poor prognosis, as mortality from this type of cancer is extremely high (five-year survival rate is only about 5 percent). Pancreatic cancer kills more than 35,000 people in the United States each year. Mayo Clinic's SPORE in pancreatic cancer is designed to support and promote research focused on understanding the causes of this disease and the mechanisms and pathways by which it spreads.

The Mayo Clinic SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer has built one of the best environments for translational researchers who are committed to the goal of reducing the incidence and mortality of this devastating malignancy. Tremendous progress has been made in creating an infrastructure that nurtures the conduct of innovative research and interdisciplinary interactions, and which has attracted committed scientists and clinicians. Four translational research projects focus on cutting edge approaches to facilitate early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Four cores (Administrative Core, Biostatistics Core, Clinical Research Core, and Tissue Core) support research in the SPORE. Broad institutional support for investigators and the research infrastructure facilitate the translation of scientific discovery to the patient. Several innovative translational pilot projects are awarded annually through a Developmental Research Program with matching funds from the institution and a Career Development Program supports one junior faculty member each year.

• Core resources
• Projects
• Developmental programs
• Prior grant cycle (2003-2008) project summaries

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center, a national recognition of excellence in education, research and treatment of cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer SPORE continues a tradition of cutting-edge research across Mayo's three locations in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Mayo Clinic has also been awarded SPOREs in brain, breast, ovarian and prostate cancer, and shares SPOREs for lymphoma and myeloma with other institutions.

The NCI established the SPORE program in 1992 to promote interdisciplinary research and speed the transition of basic research findings from the laboratory to applied settings involving patients and populations. The program's goal is to bring into clinical care novel ideas that have the potential to reduce cancer incidence and mortality, improve survival and enhance patients' quality of life. Laboratory and clinical scientists work collaboratively to plan, design and implement research programs focused on cancer prevention and control, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and survival.

For more information about pancreatic cancer treatment at Mayo Clinic, visit Mayoclinic.org.