The Challenge of Pancreatic Disease

• Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. and is projected to rise to second by 2030.
• It has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers.
• Acute and chronic pancreatitis cause severe pain, carry major emotional and financial burdens, and may increase the risk of diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

Source: American Cancer Society

Our Focus at the Brenden-Colson Center

Our program is built on teamwork. Program leaders, clinicians, and scientists work side by side, sharing ideas and data to translate discoveries into better care. This “center without walls” approach connects patient needs directly with research breakthroughs and drives progress where it matters most.

Earlier Detection –Developing minimally invasive tests and advanced imaging to identify early-stage disease and precancerous lesions.

Advanced Therapy –Developing innovative surgical and medical treatments for both benign and malignant pancreatic conditions.

Patient Resilience –Advancing our understanding of how pancreatic diseases affect wellbeing and resiliency, paving the way for effective therapies that improve patients’ quality of life.

Learn More

Explore our Discovery Science Programs:

Benign Disease & Early Biology/Detection

Cancer Drivers & Intrinsic Vulnerabilities

Tumor Microenvironment and Immune/Stromal Vulnerabilities

Patient Resiliency & Cachexia Biology

Population Science

Additional Resources

For more information about pancreatic cancer statistics, you can view a short video from the NIH Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Select Pancreatic Cancer from the “Choose a video” drop-down menu.