The Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research announced a grant program Thursday aimed at advancing research into a rare form of pancreatic cancer and developing less invasive treatment options.
The initiative, known as the PNET Pathway Grant Program, will fund research focused on pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, or PNETs, while continuing efforts targeting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, the most common form of the disease, according to the foundation.
Officials said the effort marks the first time an organization has simultaneously supported coordinated research on both cancer types.
In its first year, the program will award three grants of $75,000 each to support PNET research.
“We are excited to offer this opportunity to advance innovative research for PNETs and provide hope for the patients and families facing this rare and underfunded type of pancreatic cancer,” Lisa Manheim, executive director of the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, said in a statement.
PNETs account for about 1% to 2% of pancreatic cancers and arise from hormone-producing cells, often requiring complex treatment decisions. While more patients are eligible for surgery than with other pancreatic cancers, officials said research is focused on identifying less invasive alternatives that could improve quality of life.
Founded in 1997, the Hirshberg Foundation was the first pancreatic cancer foundation established in the United States and now supports three collaborative laboratories at UCLA.