The efforts at Johns
Hopkins to advance our understanding of pancreas cancer and to
develop new techniques to diagnose and treat this dreaded disease are proceeding at a
record pace, we have more leads than we have resources to pursue them. Financial support
is needed to continue these efforts. For example, initial start-up salaries and equipment
for the Kern laboratory were enabled by a private fund dedicated to the sponsorship of
young investigators (the James S. McDonnell Foundation).
The fellowships of Dr. Schutte (discoverer of the link between pancreas cancer and the
BRCA2 gene and Dr. Hahn (discoverer of the DPC4 gene) were each initiated by special
temporary fellowships before federal funding could be obtained to study these genes.
The National Familial Pancreas Tumor Registry receives half of its funding from federal
sources; the remainder of our operating budget comes from private donations.
What form can a donation
take? Some people have given direct donations, some have
left a donation as a bequeath, and some have asked that donations be sent in lieu of
flowers. Each donation has helped us explore new avenues of research, and each is a
poignant reminder of the human cost of this disease. Importantly, this private giving has
provided us with the opportunity to make real advances in our understanding of pancreas
cancer. Those of you wishing to support pancreas cancer research at Johns Hopkins may do
so by sending your tax-deductible contribution payable to The Johns Hopkins University to:
Ralph H. Hruban, M.D.
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Department of Pathology
Weinberg 2242
401 North Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231-2410
If you have any questions about how you can help support pancreas cancer research, do not hesitate to
give us a call: 410-955-9132.
Individuals interested in making more substantial donations to support pancreas cancer research may
wish to consider a permanent named endowment. These gifts not only honor and remember a
loved one, but they also help in the battle against pancreas cancer. Named endowments can
be established at a number of different levels, and the possibilities include a named
research endowment, a named research or clinical fellowship, and a named chair (a
Professorship) for pancreas cancer research.
If you wish to learn more about how to create a named endowment for
pancreas cancer research, please call either Dr. Hruban at 410-955-9132.
Participation takes may
forms when creativity is cultivated. One hurdle for
pancreatic cancer research is the relative invisibility of the disease in the public
mind. In Maryland,
in Ohio, and in a growing number of other states, governors have dedicated August as
Pancreas Cancer Awareness Month. A similar effort is being launched to have the
President declare November as a National Month for Pancreas Cancer Awareness.
"An Evening
with the Stars", a fund-raiser for pancreas cancer research at Johns Hopkins, was
held in Beverly Hills. This event raised $100,000 to start up a laboratory at Johns
Hopkins dedicated to the development and testing of screening tests for pancreatic
cancer.
More news about these events is available here.
Prostate cancer made the cover of TIME and other
magazines in recent years. This was cause for celebration as a public relations
victory, but all forms of cancer need special attention if these battles are to be won.
Pancreas
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