Early Detection Initiative
Read more about why early detection matters on our pancreatic cancer early detection information page.
Early detection could change everything for pancreatic cancer.
Detecting pancreatic cancer early — before it has spread beyond the pancreas — dramatically improves a patient's chances of survival. Most pancreatic cancers are diagnosed too late for effective treatment. Pankind’s Early Detection Initiative is funding the research, collaboration and national programs working to change that.
Pankind Early Detection Initiative
Launched in 2021, the Pankind Early Detection Initiative provides dedicated focus and funding for research that will enable earlier detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer across Australia.
The initiative supports research exploring earlier diagnosis, improved pathways to care, better understanding of high-risk groups, and the development of new tools and approaches for early detection.
Dr William McGahan received a Pankind Early Detection Innovation grant in 2025
The challenge we're working to solve
The rate of late-stage diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is unmatched by most other cancers.
Global data tells us that around 53% of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed after the disease has already metastasised (distant stage), with a further 29% diagnosed after spread to nearby lymph nodes (regional stage). Fewer than one in ten patients are diagnosed while the disease remains localised to the pancreas.
Data source: SEER 21 (Excluding IL) 2016–2022, All Races, Both Sexes by SEER Combined Summary Stage
44% vs 3%
Five-year survival is dramatically higher when pancreatic cancer is detected and an early stage compared to late-stage disease.
This has a major impact on survival rates.
Five-year survival is significantly higher when pancreatic cancer is found early, compared with cancer that has already spread. For localised pancreatic cancer, five-year relative survival is around 43.6%. For distant metastatic disease, it falls to only 3.4% - a more than tenfold difference between the earliest and latest stages (NCI SEER Program, 2024).
Australia's overall survival figures are consistent with international late-stage patterns, reflecting the dominance of late-stage presentation in the case mix (American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures, 2024; AIHW, Cancer in Australia, 2024). In Australia, we do not yet routinely collect national stage-at-diagnosis data for pancreatic cancer. That means we cannot clearly measure how many people are being diagnosed late, or track whether early detection efforts are improving outcomes over time (Evans et al., PLOS ONE, 2024).
The early detection landscape
Advancing early detection of pancreatic cancer is one of the most complex challenges in cancer research.
To better understand where the greatest opportunities exist, Pankind commissioned a comprehensive analysis of the pancreatic cancer early detection landscape in Australia and globally in 2023.
Key findings:
An emerging field locally, active globally
Australian early detection research is still developing, with a fragmented and siloed landscape compared to highly collaborative international networks.
Funding gaps remain
Despite growing momentum, overall investment in pancreatic cancer early detection research remains insufficient in Australia.
In 2023 Pankind was the second-largest funder of pancreatic cancer early detection research in Australia (28.8% of total funding). Cancer Australia did not fund a single pancreatic cancer project.
No reliable test exists yet
Several blood-based early detection tests are currently in development and available in Australia and overseas, but no reliable screening test currently exists.
GPs need better support
GPs are critical but under-supported. Around 61% of patients visit their GP more than three times before diagnosis, highlighting the need for better decision-support tools and education in primary care.
Understanding risk
More research is needed to better identify and support people at increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
Collaboration is critical
Researchers, clinicians, industry, government and people with lived experience must work together to accelerate progress. The fragmented nature of the field remains one of the biggest barriers to progress.
Charting the course for earlier detection and diagnosis
In 2023, Pankind brought together Australia's leading pancreatic cancer researchers, clinicians, people with lived experience, industry and government to map the path forward for early detection.
The resulting reports captured the current landscape, identified critical gaps, and directly shaped Pankind's research priorities and funding strategy.
Early Detection in Pancreatic Cancer: Environment Report (September 2023)
A comprehensive analysis of the global and Australian early detection research landscape, including publication impact, national funding patterns, translational and commercial activity, and stakeholder consultation
Early Detection Workshop Report (November 2023)
A summary of the key themes, priorities and recommended next steps identified by workshop participants, including the urgent call for a national, multidisciplinary approach to early detection research for pancreatic cancer.
The case for earlier detection
Earlier detection and diagnosis are paramount and the potential gains are striking.
Modelling of pancreatic cancer’s natural history suggests that detecting the disease 4 - 6 years before symptoms appear could maximise survival benefit — highlighting the long-term promise of liquid biopsy and AI-driven early detection technologies as these fields continue to evolve (Park et al.,Scientific Reports, 2023). But pre-symptomatic detection is not the only opportunity to improve outcomes.
Currently, only 15–20% of patients are diagnosed at a stage eligible for potentially curative surgery (Lockie et al., BJS Open, 2025). Even modest improvements in earlier diagnosis could meaningfully increase that proportion.
Research has consistently demonstrated a robust relationship between higher surgical resection rates and improved survival, particularly when supported by centralised care, multidisciplinary treatment pathways, and equitable access to high-volume surgical centres.
Faster diagnostic pathways, targeted surveillance of high-risk groups, and biomarker-based triage each represent realistic near-term opportunities to shift diagnosis towards earlier, more treatable disease.
Early detection is not a single intervention, but a portfolio of complementary strategies — each of which with the potential to save lives.
Our investment in early detection research
A dedicated Early Detection grant stream was established in 2021 and has, to date, invested $3,211,640 specifically in early detection research. Our commitment has grown every year, and in 2025 Pankind announced our largest-ever research investment — with a record number of grants dedicated to early detection.
Our investment spans population-wide detection approaches, improved risk assessment and monitoring for high-risk groups, and research to intercept the disease at its earliest, pre-cancerous stage — developing the tools we need to find this cancer before it is too late.
Specifically, the Early Detection Initiative drove targeted investment in surveillance for high-risk individuals through a screening program
Learn more about the APRISE study
Pankind’s early detection funding has also had a demonstrable multiplier effect: two recipients of the 2021 Early Detection Innovation Grants — Claudine Bonder and Zaklina Kovacevic — went on to successfully secure NHMRC Ideas Grants in 2022, leveraging Pankind’s seed funding into additional national investment.
In addition, four previous Pankind grant recipients have received subsequent Pankind funding to further develop, expand and build on their earlier research outcomes.