Program areas at PCAN
Research - pancan funds groundbreaking research initiatives that will transform the way Pancreatic Cancer is detected and treated. We fund research grants to individual investigators and large-scale, multi-institutional clinical projects that are focused on advancing new treatments and early detection for Pancreatic Cancer. We invested a record $25 million in research in fiscal year 2022. Research funding that supported important research projects at institutions across the country, and pancan's precision promise adaptive clinical trial, early detection initiative, know your tumor precision medicine service, and patient registry. Since 2003, pancan has awarded 234 research grants to 213 scientists at 79 institutions. Pancan's cumulative research investment is now more than $174 million, making a significant impact on the diagnosis, treatment and care of today's patients and those who will be diagnosed in the future.
Patient services - provides free, personalized information and resources about Pancreatic Cancer, treatment options, clinical trials, diet and nutrition, specialists and support resources to help patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. We have the largest, most up-to-date clinical trials database in the country and provide constitutents with personalized searches so that they understand all of their treatment options. Our expert patient services case managers share more resources and speak with more Pancreatic Cancer patients than any other organization in the world. Last year alone, we had nearly 48,000 interactions with Pancreatic Cancer patients and families.
Community engagement - 59 volunteer-led affiliates with over 2,400 volunteers raise awareness of pancan and the disease and educate their communities about Pancreatic Cancer. Volunteers hosted 60 purplestride events across the country this past year, over 56,000 participants registered supporting survivors, families and friends, as well as providing educational information at the events. We are also a founding member of the world Pancreatic Cancer coalition, comprising more than 90 Pancreatic Cancer patient advocacy groups from over 30 countries and six continents. The coalition hosts world Pancreatic Cancer day every november to raise global awareness of the disease. Purplestride participants raised over $12.5 million.
Government affairs and advocacy - we drive legislative support for increased federal research funding for Pancreatic Cancer. Our grassroots advocacy efforts led to the passage of the recalcitrant Cancer research act, increased research dollars for Pancreatic Cancer at the national Cancer institute, and led to a new Pancreatic Cancer research program at the department of defense. Since our founding, federal research funding for Pancreatic Cancer has increased by 900 percent and continues to increase each year due to our efforts.