Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) is a groundbreaking imaging method that can map multiple parameters with a single scan. Dr. Alexander Guimaraes has developed this system to be fast, unaffected by breath motion, and not require contrast dye injections. MRF is uniquely able to detect changes associated with early pancreas disease, such as fibrosis, making it an ideal tool for early detection. We plan to use computational methods like machine learning to further develop this approach for long-term surveillance of at-risk patients.

The Brenden-Colson Center supports research to develop early detection screens for biomarkers—biological signposts of pancreatic diseases—that can be found in a patient's blood.

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are submicron-sized particles secreted by cells. We are developing methods to identify EVs released from pancreatic cells to determine the presence or absence of early-stage pancreatic cancer.
• Pathologist Dr. Terry Morgan has used high-resolution flow cytometry to identify distinct EV markers in patients with pancreatic cancer. Research scientist Dr. Stuart Ibsen has validated these findings with a separate technique using dielectrophoresis chips, a collaboration made possible with Biological Dynamics, a company that specializes in rapidly recovering EVs from patient blood.
• We are also collaborating with Biological Dynamics to advance a separate EV-based biomarker signature for the early detection of pancreatic cancer.

The following projects represent our commitment to a multifaceted approach to early detection and benign pancreatic disease.​​​​​​​

• MRF for pancreatitis – Alex Guimaraes & Cory Wyatt
• Activity MRI for diffusion weighted imaging – Charles Springer
• Circulating protease activity for pancreatic cancer detection – Jared Fischer
• Identification of pancreatic cancer early detection biomarkers using exosomes, cell-free RNA, DNA signatures, and platelet activation – Terry Morgan, Thuy Ngo, Stuart Ibsen, & Sam Yunga
• Exosome protein marker signature for early detection – Rosie Sears, Stuart Ibsen, & Zeev Ronai
• Circulating hybrid cell detection in pre-cancer and early cancer – Melissa Wong
• Identification of pre-malignant lesion biomarkers using signaling network mapping – John Muschler & Emek Demir
• Activity monitors as early indicator of disease – Aaron Grossberg
• Using tissue microarrays from patient samples to study pancreatic cancer progression – Rosalie Sears
• Human pancreatic cancer cellular model to understand cancer initiation – Jungsun Kim
• Aberrant mitochondrial proteins in pancreatic cancer initiation and progression – Matthew Rames
• Identifying biomarkers of rapid recurrence – Patrick Worth