Scientific Meeting 2025: Progress without pause in pancreatic cancer research

On 31 October, Pankind proudly hosted its third annual Scientific Meeting, bringing together more than 150 registered attendees from across Australia’s pancreatic cancer research community. This year’s theme, The Road to Treatment, reflected our shared commitment to translating scientific progress into tangible therapies, highlighting both the remarkable advancements achieved and the ongoing collaborative efforts required to bring new hope to pancreatic cancer patients.

The meeting was a powerful showcase of scientific depth, collaborative momentum, and emerging innovation in the field. With excellent representation from current, past and future Pankind grantees, and a dynamic mix of researchers, clinicians, and translational scientists, the event reflected the strength and continuity of Australia’s research ecosystem and its growing global relevance.

KRAS breakthroughs signal a turning point

A major highlight of the day was the plenary session, featuring two of the world’s most esteemed pancreatic cancer experts and long-standing members of the Pankind Scientific Advisory Panel: Dr Eileen O’Reilly from Memorial Sloan Kettering and  Dr Andy Lowy from UC San Diego. 

Together, they spotlighted major therapeutic advances, most notably, the development of new KRAS inhibitors now entering clinical trials. The KRAS gene, which plays a key role in how cells grow and divide, is altered in over 90% of pancreatic cancers. For decades, this gene was considered “undruggable”, eluding even the most promising research efforts. Now, thanks to advances in drug design, molecular modelling and clinical research, new treatments that “switch off” faulty forms of the KRAS gene are showing real promise and offering hope for better outcomes and more targeted therapies.

Dr O’Reilly underscored the critical importance of genomic testing, urging the field to “test everyone, test often”. She outlined a future of care guided by integrated molecular, genomic, and clinical insight, pointing to the need for smarter, more personalised approaches to treatment and early detection.

Dr Lowy offered an equally optimistic view, emphasising recent strides in identifying high-risk groups, including individuals with inherited syndromes and strong family histories. Advances in imaging, as well as improved understanding of precursor lesions and molecular drivers, are helping shape earlier and more precise intervention strategies.

Australia’s leadership in clinical trials

Australia maintains a strong position in the global clinical trials landscape, ranking first in the world per capita for industry-sponsored trials and third globally for phase I studies. This robust clinical trial ecosystem is a critical national asset.Maintaining and strengthening this clinical trial infrastructure is essential for ensuring Australians continue to have early access to emerging treatments and that Australian researchers remain at the forefront of international collaborative efforts.

Turning point in the field

There’s a growing sentiment in the research community that we are reaching a pivotal moment in the history of pancreatic cancer research. The phrase “inflection point” was echoed across the meeting, and for good reason. Progress is being fuelled by new biological insights into the tumour microenvironment, immune system interactions, and emerging genetic targets. With a wave of new agents, particularly KRAS inhibitors, entering clinical trials, and better tools for biomarker-driven patient selection, there is genuine hope that sustained improvements in outcomes are within reach.

Research presentations and national dialogue

We also heard from our 2024 Pankind grant recipients, who delivered inspiring updates on their research, spanning early detection, targeted therapies, and fundamental discovery science. Their work showcases the breadth and sophistication of pancreatic cancer research happening across Australia.

A panel discussion, led by Prof Steve Robson, who himself, has a strong family history of pancreatic cancer, featured national leaders and delved into one of the most pressing issues in the field: genomic and genetic testing. While there was broad agreement on its value in clinical practice, consensus emerged that Australia is falling behind other countries where routine testing is embedded across cancer care.

Speakers emphasised the urgent need to expand access, raise awareness, and remove systemic barriers so that people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are not missing out on critical diagnostic or therapeutic opportunities.

Looking ahead

This year’s Scientific Meeting leaves us energised, informed, and inspired. The message was clear: real progress is happening, and Australia is poised to play a central role in shaping the future of pancreatic cancer care.

We thank all our speakers, attendees and partners for their continued commitment.Together, we’re building a future where pancreatic cancer is no longer a devastating diagnosis but a disease we can detect earlier, treat more effectively, and ultimately survive.

We also extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to our donors and supporters, whose continued generosity allows us to fund the research that will make a real difference.