Pankind is proud to announce our 2025 Research Grants program, our largest-ever investment in pancreatic cancer research, totalling $2.5 million across 15 research projects.
This milestone represents a huge step forward in our mission to triple pancreatic cancer survival rates by 2030. By funding Australia’s brightest researchers we’re driving innovation in early detection, novel treatments, and translational science.
A record investment in early detection and innovation
Early detection remains one of the biggest challenges in pancreatic cancer and this year Pankind has awarded a record number of grants dedicated to improving early detection and early diagnosis.
Other funded projects are advancing new treatment approaches and further uncovering the biology of pancreatic tumours. Together, these initiatives will help move discoveries from the lab to the clinic faster, giving more people a fairer fight.
Collaboration and excellence at every step
All grant applications underwent rigorous review by an independent panel of expert Australian and international reviewers, lead by Pankind’s Scientific Advisory Panel. The standard this year was exceptionally high, with an impressive breadth and scope of projects, making for an especially competitive round.
Made possible by our supporters
This record investment is only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of Pankind donors, partners, and community supporters who support our vision to triple survival rates by 2030.
The 2025 Pankind research grant recipients at the Scientific Meeting, October 31 2025
Meet the 2025 Grant Recipients
Early Detection Innovation - $100,000
Funds innovation research to improve early detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer by supporting feasibility and proof-of-concept studies.
Dr. Michaela Kindlova
Improving early detection of pancreatic cancer by exploring the faulty methylation of pre-cancerous tissue
Dr. William McGahan
Seeing the unseen: a targeted fluorescent probe to detect otherwise invisible pre-cancerous lesions in the pancreas
Dr. Orion Tong
Simultaneous targeted methylome and genome sequencing from early-stage pancreatic cancer as a sensitive, multi-factor liquid biopsy
Dr. Chamini Perera
Pancreatic Cancer-Related Diabetes: A Critical Juncture for Pancreatic Cancer Detection
Prof Nils Halberg
Metabolism-Driven Biomarker Discovery for Early Detection of PDAC
New Treatment Innovation - $100,000
Supports early-stage research to develop new treatments, diagnostics, or quality-of-care improvements for pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Zaklina Kovacevic
Starving the Enemy: Undermining CAF-Driven Metabolic Support in PDAC to Reawaken Immune Defence.
A/Prof Pouya Faridi
Exploiting Shared Cancer Antigens for Off-the-Shelf Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer
A/Prof Walter Fairlie
Unlocking Synergy: Drug Combinations Targeting Critical Survival Factors for Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy in Pancreatic Cancer
Dr. Sarah Hancock
Targeting lipid desaturase activity to enhance chemotherapy response in pancreatic cancer
Dr. Mark Adams
Augmenting a novel mechanism to restore pancreatic cancer response to treatment
New Treatment Accelerator - $300,000
Funds advanced research to fast-track new treatments from the lab to clinical application, driving real-world impact.
Dr. Isabelle Munoz
Developing the Next-Generation T Cell Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer via Precision Genome Editing
Prof Marina Pajic
Selective inhibition of integrin signalling as a novel precision medicine approach: targeting treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer.
A/Prof Peter Janes
Novel antibody-based drugs to target pancreatic tumours
Prof John Hooper
Panc-PET - a molecular-imaging trial to guide targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer
Dr. Belinda Lee
DISCOVERY-P: Adaptive study evaluating new therapies in early-stage pancreatic cancer utilising circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) to guide adjuvant therapy selection
