Population Science

Addressing Health Disparities in Pancreatic Cancer

At the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, we believe that everyone deserves equal access to outstanding pancreatic care. Unfortunately, communities that are marginalized or medically underserved often face significant obstacles. These communities may have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer and poorer outcomes, which can be linked to barriers in accessing care, limited screening, and late diagnoses.

Our Commitment to the Community

We are taking action. The BCCPC has teamed up with the Knight Cancer Institute's Community Outreach, Research, and Engagement (CORE) program. Our partnership is focused on a shared mission: to build a more equitable future for pancreatic cancer care.

Together, we are:

  • Understanding the Problem: Monitoring cancer trends and disparities to identify where the needs are greatest.
  • Supporting Local Research: Funding research that directly benefits Oregonians.
  • Reaching Out: Bringing cancer education, resources, and screenings to underserved communities.
  • Building Partnerships: Collaborating with community organizations to ensure our efforts are meaningful and effective.

We are committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of every person we serve, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Ongoing Research Projects

At the BCCPC, we are committed to finding pancreatic cancer as early as possible. That's why we've partnered with the Healthy Oregon Project (HOP), an innovative app-based platform dedicated to hereditary cancer screening.

A Statewide Effort with a Major Impact

We have partnered with the Healthy Oregon Project (HOP), an innovative app-based platform dedicated to hereditary cancer screening. This project is a collaborative effort led by Dr. Jackilen Shannon and the Cancer Early Detection and Research (CEDAR) center at OHSU. The team, which includes geneticists, community outreach specialists, scientists, and genetic counselors, is dedicated to understanding how a person’s genetics, environment, and behavior can affect their cancer risk. To date, the HOP cohort has grown to nearly 50,000 participants statewide, representing every county in Oregon.

  • Approximately 65% of these individuals have received valuable information about their heritable cancer risks through genetic screening.
  • As of August 2025, the project has identified 509 individuals with a high risk for pancreatic cancer due to family history or a gene mutation.

How We're Making a Difference Together

We work directly with HOP to reach these at-risk individuals. By doing so, we can connect them with crucial pancreatic cancer surveillance and invite them to participate in early detection studies. This personalized approach can be life-changing, ensuring that those at the highest risk get the specialized care and monitoring they need to stay ahead of cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States by 2030. In 2021, an estimated 100,669 people were living with pancreatic cancer in the U.S., with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounting for approximately 90% of these cases.

In Oregon, the incidence of PDAC is two times higher among Native American communities than among the rest of the population nationwide. In some rural, medically underserved areas of Oregon, the incidence rate is as high as 16.8 per 100,000 individuals.

This disparity in incidence is compounded by a stark gap in outcomes. Native American communities face the worst 5-year survival rate for PDAC (6.7%) among all U.S. ethnic groups, compared to a rate of 11% for the general population.

To combat these disparities, Dr. Claymore Kills First and the BCCPC, in collaboration with the CORE team, are committed to understanding and removing the barriers that prevent tribal community members from participating in pancreatic cancer screening, treatment, and clinical trials.

The following projects represent our commitment to a multifaceted approach to pancreatic cancer and population science.