Forward Science: The next chapter in pancreatic cancer research
Pankind Scientific Meeting 2026
Friday 30 October 2026, Swissotel, Sydney
Questions for speakers
Have a question for our speakers? Send it through Slido during each session and we’ll put it to them in the Q&A.
Pankind, Pancreatic Cancer Australia, respectfully acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora nation as the Traditional Custodians of this land on which we meet today. We would also like to pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Michelle Stewart
Chief Executive Officer
Welcome from our CEO
Dear Guests,
On behalf of Pankind, Pancreatic Cancer Australia, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our 2026 Scientific Meeting.
The theme of this year’s meeting, Forward Science: The Next Chapter in Pancreatic Cancer, reflects a genuinely promising time for pancreatic cancer research. After decades of limited progress, advances in our understanding of the disease are opening new possibilities for earlier detection and more effective treatments. The emerging promise of RAS inhibitors, in particular, offers renewed hope for a disease that has long had limited treatment options.
Read the full welcome
This year, Pankind is investing our largest total ever, $3 million, in pancreatic cancer research grants, bringing our total research investment to $23 million since inception. Research remains at the heart of our mission to triple pancreatic cancer survival rates by 2030.
As scientific progress accelerates, we must also ensure patients can benefit from these advances. Through our Every Week Matters campaign, Pankind is advocating for faster, more flexible pathways to access new medicines, recognising that for people living with pancreatic cancer, every week matters.
Alongside our investment in research and advocacy, we remain committed to providing trusted information, personalised support and access to clinical trial opportunities for people affected by pancreatic cancer.
Progress depends on collaboration, and we are deeply grateful to the researchers, clinicians and partners whose dedication continues to move the field forward.
We look forward to an inspiring meeting, sharing ideas, strengthening connections and exploring the next chapter in pancreatic cancer research together.
With best wishes,
Michelle Stewart
Chief Executive Officer
2026 Program
8:30
Arrival and Registration
9:00
Welcome and Introductions
9:10–10:30
Plenary Session
Dr Wungki Park
GI Medical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA
Pancreatic Cancer: From Biology to Breakthroughs
Prof David Chang
Chair of Surgical Oncology, University of Glasgow, UK
Pancreatic Cancer: From Pixel to Patient
10:30–11:10
Morning tea and posters
11:10–12:10
Session 1: New Treatments and Targeted Therapies
Dr Mark Adams, QUT
Dr Enyuan Cao, Monash University
Prof John Hooper, QUT
12:10–12:55
Session 2: Panel Discussion
Accelerating the Pipeline: What Will It Take to Move Faster?
12:55–14:25
Lunch Break / Poster Walkaround
14:25–15:25
Session 3: Early Detection
Dr Chamini Perera, UNSW
Dr Michaela Kindlova, University of Queensland
Prof Andrew Metz, Epworth HealthCare
15:25–16:00
Session 4: Moderated Group Discussion
16:00–16:15
Afternoon Tea
16:15–16:30
Award Presentations
Pankind Research Impact Award
Scientific excellence and the real-world difference that research can make to patients and their families
Poster Prize
Most outstanding presentation, as judged by the Scientific Committee
16:30–16:45
Closing Remarks
17:00–19:00
Networking Drinks
Plenary session speakers
We're thrilled to welcome two global leaders to our plenary session: Dr. Wungki Park from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and Professor David Chang, the Chair of Surgical Oncology at the University of Glasgow.
Dr Wungki Park
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
Dr Wungki Park is a GI medical oncologist and physician-scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center specialising in pancreatic and biliary cancers, with a research program focused on first-in-human novel KRAS-directed therapies, DNA damage repair biology, and immune modulation. He leads multiple investigator-initiated and industry clinical trials. His lab (sPARK lab) integrates genomics, single-cell, spatial and computational data analysis to define tumor evolution, cachexia mechanisms, and therapeutic vulnerabilities, and uses AI-technologies for early detection and pathology biomarkers for treatments in pancreatic cancer. He is a founder of GRIT (GI RAS Innovative Therapeutics), and this initiative focuses on translational science and developmental therapeutics for RAS-driven GI cancers. He is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of physician–scientists and advancing innovative, patient-centered approaches to improve outcomes in these historically lethal cancers.
Professor David Chang
Chair of Surgical Oncology, University of Glasgow
Professor David Chang holds the Chair of Surgical Oncology at the University of Glasgow. His research focuses on a better understanding of the molecular pathology of pancreatic cancer to inform novel therapeutic strategies. Professor Chang undertook his HPB and Upper GI Surgery fellowship, PhD, and post-doctoral training in Australia. He was recruited to the University of Glasgow in 2013 as part of the research initiative for precision medicine in Scotland. He leads Precision-Panc, a UK national therapeutic development platform to deliver personalised cancer care for pancreatic cancer. Professor Chang is also the UK lead of the European Horizon H2020-funded pancreatic cancer AI consortium, PANCAIM, which aims to develop AI and machine learning applications to better understand pancreatic cancer molecular pathology and treatment for patients. He also took up the Chair of the UK National Pancreatic Cancer Research Group in 2025, driving the national pancreatic cancer clinical research priorities.
Dr Wungki Park
New York
Dr Wungki Park is a GI medical oncologist and physician-scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center specialising in pancreatic and biliary cancers, with a research program focused on first-in-human novel KRAS-directed therapies, DNA damage repair biology, and immune modulation. He leads multiple investigator-initiated and industry clinical trials. His lab (sPARK lab) integrates genomics, single-cell, spatial and computational data analysis to define tumor evolution, cachexia mechanisms, and therapeutic vulnerabilities, and uses AI-technologies for early detection and pathology biomarkers for treatments in pancreatic cancer. He is a founder of GRIT (GI RAS Innovative Therapeutics), and this initiative focuses on translational science and developmental therapeutics for RAS-driven GI cancers. He is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of physician–scientists and advancing innovative, patient-centered approaches to improve outcomes in these historically lethal cancers.
Professor David Chang
Glasgow
Professor David Chang holds the Chair of Surgical Oncology at the University of Glasgow. His research focuses on a better understanding of the molecular pathology of pancreatic cancer to inform novel therapeutic strategies. Professor Chang undertook his HPB and Upper GI Surgery fellowship, PhD, and post-doctoral training in Australia. He was recruited to the University of Glasgow in 2013 as part of the research initiative for precision medicine in Scotland. He leads Precision-Panc, a UK national therapeutic development platform to deliver personalised cancer care for pancreatic cancer. Professor Chang is also the UK lead of the European Horizon H2020-funded pancreatic cancer AI consortium, PANCAIM, which aims to develop AI and machine learning applications to better understand pancreatic cancer molecular pathology and treatment for patients. He also took up the Chair of the UK National Pancreatic Cancer Research Group in 2025, driving the national pancreatic cancer clinical research priorities.
Session speakers
Dr Mark Adams
Senior Research Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology
Dr Mark Adams is a Senior Research Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He completed his PhD at the Mater Research Institute–The University of Queensland in 2012 and, supported by an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship, undertook postdoctoral training at the Translational Research Institute (TRI) on the Princess Alexandra Hospital campus. Dr Adams is now based at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus, where he leads a research program focused on exploiting cellular programmes that regulate genome instability, cell cycle control, and cell growth.
His work aims to identify novel therapeutic vulnerabilities and improve treatment responses in the deadliest solid cancers, particularly pancreatic and lung cancers. His research has been published in leading international journals, including Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Nature Communications, and Nucleic Acids Research, and has attracted competitive funding from the Queensland Government, the NHMRC, the International Lung Cancer Foundation, Cancer Australia, Cure Cancer, Tour de Cure, and Pankind.
Dr. Enyuan Cao
Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Enyuan Cao, an emerging expert in the lymphatic regulation of immunometabolism and inflammation, leads a team investigating lymphatic pathophysiology and a lymph-targeted drug delivery system at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her recent Pankind proposal enabled her research to address how lymph-pancreas interaction can be a potential treatment target for pancreatic cancer. Bringing a fresh angle in cancer research, with a background of lymphatic function and pharmaceutical science, her team aim to develop oral targeted therapy directly to the site of tumour development.
Dr Cao is a NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow and a Lecturer at Monash University. Her notable contributions include developing lymphatic-targeted therapeutics and publishing quality work Science Advances, Nature Metabolism, Nature and Pharmacological Reviews. Dr. Cao uses lymphatic imaging to investigate novel lymphatic connections in the pancreas and gut. Additionally, she has profiled the lipidome in PDAC lymph fluid related to obesity by using lymphatic microsurgery. These methodologies will be integral to the current project. Dr. Cao has successfully secured funding from ARPA-H, NHMRC, ARC and MRFF.
Professor John Hooper
Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland
Professor John Hooper leads the Cancer Biology Lab at the Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, where his team is investigating better ways to detect and treat a range of cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer. His team is developing new agents for fluorescence-guided surgery, PET/CT imaging, antibody-drug conjugates, and theranostics. One of the PET/CT imaging agents developed by his lab is currently being tested in phase 1 clinical trials in pancreatic cancer patients, as well as bladder, breast, and ovarian cancer patients.
Dr Chamini Perera
UNSW Sydney
Dr Chamini Perera is a Senior Lecturer at UNSW Sydney and an emerging leader in pancreatic cancer research. Her work focuses on biomarker discovery for the early detection of pancreatic
cancer. She completed her PhD in Neuroscience in 2016 and now leads the Pancreatic Cancer‑Related Diabetes Program at the South Western Sydney Clinical Campuses, UNSW/Ingham Institute, with a particular focus on identifying novel biomarkers in exosomes derived from pancreatic cancer-stromal interactions. Chamini serves as the Honorary Secretary of the Australasian Pancreatic Club and is committed to mentoring early‑career researchers and higher‑degree research students.
Dr Michaela Kindlova
Mater Research, Translational Bioinformatics Group
Dr Michaela Kindlova is a senior research officer within the Translational Bioinformatics Group at Mater Research (Brisbane). In 2013, she was awarded a PhD in parasitology (Charles University, Prague). After that, she succeeded in highly prestigious Group of 8 European fellowship program which brought her to Australia. During her half year-long stay at University of Queensland, she transitioned to the field of molecular biology. Her interest shifted from parasitic diseases to disorders caused by genomic and epigenomic aberrations including the major threat, cancer.
Despite several career disruptions, Dr Kindlova is currently building a path of an emerging leader at Mater Research. Her main goal is to understand the pancreatic and prostatic cancer milieu, particularly the genomic and epigenomic processes initiating carcinogenesis and the use of epigenetic markers such as methylation in their early detection. Her recent work published in Nature Communications (2025 Nov 24;16:10358) employed innovative Oxford nanopore sequencing and bioinformatical analysis utilising their own software published in Bioinformatics (2022 May 26;38(11):3109-3112). Michaela’s work on Pancreatic cancer has recently been funded through a TRI LINC Grant (2024), a Mater Research EMCR seeding grant (2025) and a Pankind Early Detection Grant (2025), which have opened the door for exploring novel strategies for early detection as well as treatment.
Professor Andrew Metz
Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth
Andrew Metz is a gastroenterologist and Head of Endoscopy at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, having previously been Head of Endoscopy at Cambridge University Hospital UK. He has an interest in pancreatic disease, running a multi-disciplinary clinic for all pancreatic conditions. He is the Inaugural Director of the Jreissati Pancreatic Centre, is the treasurer of the Australasian Pancreatic Club, and a council member of the International Association of Pancreatology. His research interests include early detection and screening of pancreatic cancer, as well as novel endoscopic devices for therapy.
Panel discussion
Accelerating the Pipeline: What Will It Take to Move Faster?
New targets and a wave of RAS-targeted therapies are changing what is possible in pancreatic cancer. Our panel asks what it will take to move faster. Join the conversation on the barriers that slow progress, and the practical changes that could shorten the path from discovery to the clinic.
Steve Robson
Panel discussion chair
Clinician and surgeon, author and leader in health policy
Steve Robson is one of Australia’s foremost advocates for, and leaders in, health and health policy. He has been a practicing doctor for 35 years. Steve is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Australian National University Medical School with special training and expertise in reproductive medicine, genetics, and pelvic surgery. He has authored hundreds of articles, papers, and textbooks – both in medicine and economics. Steve is currently President of the Australian Medical Association. He has served as President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
His family has a significant history of pancreatic cancer, with five of his father’s eight siblings lost to the disease. Steve brings a personal understanding of the importance of early detection and awareness and we are pleased to welcome him as Chair of the panel discussion.
Poster abstracts
We encourage you to explore the research posters on display and discover more of the exciting work being undertaken across the pancreatic cancer research community.
A large molecular model of cancer harmonizes bioprinted PDAC co-cultures with patient biology
Principal Investigator: Joe Gillson
Institution: Inventia Life Science
68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT Versus 18F-FDG PET/CT for Pancreatic Cancer: A Feasibility Study
Principal Investigator: Yvette Coulon
Institution: I-Med Radiology
Enhancing the efficacy of and overcoming resistance to Kras Inhibitors in Pancreatic Cancer
Principal Investigator: Niahm Mills
Institution: Garvan
Pinpointing and targeting novel drivers of pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis using TRAP-seq
Principal Investigator: Michael Trpceski
Institution: Garvan
Development of an immune-humanised mouse model for pancreatic cancer research
Principal Investigator: Diana Schumacher
Institution: Garvan
High-throughput plasma affinity proteomic profiling identifies a candidate biomarker to improve early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma detection
Principal Investigator: Stellene Vitaro
Institution: Flinders
Therapeutic potential of co-targeting PRMT5 and MAT2A in MTAP-loss pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Johana Luhur
Institution: Garvan
Targeting the NPY/NPY1R signaling axis in mutant p53–dependent pancreatic cancer impairs metastasis
Principal Investigator: David Herrmann
Institution: Garvan
The Australian Pancreatic High-RIsk ScrEening (APRISE) Program
Principal Investigator: Halina Pietrzak
Institution: Jreissati Centre, Epworth
Primary cancer associated fibroblasts alter PDAC tumour organoid subtype through epigenetic regulation
Principal Investigator: Emilie Jaune
Institution: Frazer Institute, University of Queensland
Co-targeting thrombospondin-1 (THBS-1) to improve KRAS inhibitor efficacy in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Victoria Tyma
Institution: Garvan
Targeting Pain Pathways in Pancreatic Cancer: Validation of CXCL12-CXCR4 Axis
Principal Investigator: Joseph Cheung
Institution: Ingham Institute
Defining and Evaluating Lithium as a Modulator of the Tumour Immune Microenvironment in difficult to treat tumours
Principal Investigator: Jessica Jenner
Institution: Garvan Institute
Hunting Hidden Tumours: Nanobots for wireless detection of Pancreatic Cancer
Principal Investigator: William Louis
Institution: RMIT
The Effect of Nutrient Availability and KRAS Mutations on Daraxonrasib Treatment in PDAC Cell Lines
Principal Investigator: Justin Moon
Institution: Victor Chang
Large-scale pharmacotranscriptomics maps genotype- and cell-state-specific drug responses in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Daksh Pamar
Institution: Melbourne University
PemOla: A phase II study combining pembrolizumab with olaparib in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients with mismatch repair deficiency or tumour mutation burden ≥ 4 mutations/Mb
Principal Investigator: Sandra Hayes
Institution: GI Cancer Trials
Stromal precision targeting sensitizes mouse pancreatic cancer to immune checkpoint inhibition
Principal Investigator: Bo He
Institution: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
Nanomotors for the early detection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Principal Investigator: Srikrishnan Ramachandran
Institution: Deakin University
Research grant recipients
Early Detection Innovation
Funds innovation research to improve early detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer by supporting feasibility and proof-of-concept studies.
Improving early detection of pancreatic cancer by exploring the faulty methylation of pre-cancerous tissue
Principal Investigator: Michaela Kindlova
Seeing the unseen: a targeted fluorescent probe to detect otherwise invisible pre-cancerous lesions in the pancreas
Principal Investigator: William McGahan
Simultaneous targeted methylome and genome sequencing from early-stage pancreatic cancer as a sensitive, multi-factor liquid biopsy
Principal Investigator: Orion Tong
Pancreatic Cancer-Related Diabetes: A Critical Juncture for Pancreatic Cancer Detection
Principal Investigator: Chamini Perera
Metabolism-Driven Biomarker Discovery for Early Detection of PDAC
Principal Investigator: Nils Halberg
New Treatment Innovation
Supports early-stage research to develop new treatments, diagnostics, or quality-of-care improvements for pancreatic cancer.
Starving the Enemy: Undermining CAF-Driven Metabolic Support in PDAC to Reawaken Immune Defence
Principal Investigator: Zaklina Kovacevic
Exploiting Shared Cancer Antigens for Off-the-Shelf Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer
Principal Investigator: Pouya Faridi
Unlocking Synergy: Drug Combinations Targeting Critical Survival Factors for Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy in Pancreatic Cancer
Principal Investigator: Walter Fairlie
Targeting lipid desaturase activity to enhance chemotherapy response in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Sarah Hancock
Augmenting a novel mechanism to restore pancreatic cancer response to treatment
Principal Investigator: Mark Adams
New Treatment Accelerator
Funds advanced research to fast-track new treatments from the lab to clinical application, driving real-world impact.
Developing the Next-Generation T Cell Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer via Precision Genome Editing
Principal Investigator: Isabelle Munoz
Selective inhibition of integrin signalling as a novel precision medicine approach: targeting treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Marina Pajic
Novel antibody-based drugs to target pancreatic tumours
Principal Investigator: Peter Janes
Panc-PET - a molecular-imaging trial to guide targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: John Hooper
DISCOVERY-P: Adaptive study evaluating new therapies in early-stage pancreatic cancer utilising circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) to guide adjuvant therapy selection
Principal Investigator: Belinda Lee
2024 Early Detection Innovation Grants
Development of a non-invasive urine screening test to identify patients with early pancreatic cancer (Marianne Allan Pancreatic Cancer Research Grant)
Principal Investigator: Belinda Lee
Institute: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Single extracellular vesicle analysis to identify high-risk pancreatic cancer precursor lesions
Principal Investigator: Ying Zhu
Institute: University of Technology Sydney
Exploring the plasma proteome to find biomarkers that can detect early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Principal Investigator: Jean Winter
Institute: Flinders University
2024 New Treatment Grants
Enhancing the efficacy of and overcoming resistance to Kras Inhibitors in Pancreatic Cancer
Principal Investigator: Kendelle Murphy
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Targeting fibrosis to improve clinical KRAS G12D inhibitor MRTX1133 efficacy in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Brooke Pereira
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Novel radiopharmaceutical therapies targeting tumour stroma for treating pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Andrew Scott
Institute: Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute
Advancing a new targeted antibody to combat pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Claudine Bonder
Institute: University of South Australia
2023 Early Detection Innovation Grant (Marianne Allan Pancreatic Cancer Research Grant)
Development of a blood based test to identify patients with early pancreatic cancer.
Principal Investigator: Dr Belinda Lee
Institute: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
2023 New Treatment Grants
Receptor-directed precision medicines for pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Prof John Hooper
Institute: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
PemOla: A phase II study combining pembrolizumab and olaparib in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients with high tumour mutation burden
Principal Investigator: Dr Daniel Croagh
Institute: Australian Gastro Intestinal Trials Group
Targeting oncogenic Pol-II transcription cycles using cyclin-dependent-kinase inhibitors: a new therapeutic approach for pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Prof Ricky Johnstone
Institute: University of Melbourne
Targeting lymph-pancreas interactions to treat pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Dr Enyuan Cao
Institute: Monash University
New pancreatic cancer treatment involving Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) inhibition in the tumour and microenvironment
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Jennette Sakoff
Institute: Calvary Mater Newcastle
Polymer mimics of the TRAIL protein for pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Dr Robert Chapman
Institute: The University of Newcastle
2022 Early Detection Innovation Grants
Lighting up the needle in the haystack: targeting malignant stroma to detect early pancreatic cancer on PET.
Principal Investigator: A/Prof David Cavallucci
Institute: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Development of an early detection biomarker for pancreatic cancer.
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Jason Lee
Institute: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
A blood test for early detection of pancreatic cancer by single extracellular vesicle analysis.
Principal Investigator: Dr Ying Zhu
Institute: University of Technology Sydney
Identifying metabolic changes in pancreatic fibroblasts during development of pancreatic cancer to facilitate early detection.
Principal Investigator: Dr Zaklina Kovacevic
Institute: The University of Sydney
2022 New Treatment Accelerator Grants
Trapping pancreatic cancer in a crossfire: investigating a combination treatment approach designed to eradicate pancreatic cancer.
Principal Investigator: Dr Alex Staudacher and Dr Vasilios Liapis
Institute: Central Adelaide Local Health Network
Targeting epigenetic modifying enzymes as a novel therapy for pancreatic cancer.
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Jason Lee
Institute: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Advanced analysis of lipid metabolism in pancreatic cancer to reveal new therapeutic targets
Principal Investigator: Prof Nigel Turner
Institute: Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
Using precision medicine approaches in pancreatic cancer to improve chemosensitivity via porcupine inhibition.
Principal Investigator: Dr Sean Porazinski
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
2021 Early Detection Innovation Grants
1Development of Biomarker Tests for Early Detection/Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer.
Principal Investigator: Prof Anubhav Mittal
Institute: The University of Sydney
Advancing a novel ‘early detection’ biomarker for PDAC.
Principal Investigator: Prof Claudine Bonder
Institute: Centre for Cancer Biology
Deciphering the Exosomal RNA Cargo in Pancreatic Cancer-related diabetes using Transcriptmonics: A Novel Approach for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
Principal Investigator: Dr Chamini Perera
Institute: The University of New South Wales
Early Detection and Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer using Circulating Tumour Cells.
Principal Investigator: Prof John Rasko
Institute: The University of Sydney
Can the molecules carried by exosomes help to diagnose pancreatic cancer early?
Principal Investigator: Prof Marco Falasca
Institute: Curtin University
2021 New Treatment Accelerator Grants
3D Human Tumour Explant Culture to Inform Precision Medicine in Pancreatic Cancer.
Principal Investigator: Dr George Sharbeen
Institute: The University of New South Wales
Spatial Transcriptomics a Pathway to Dissecting Barriers to Effective Treatment in Pancreatic Cancer.
Principal Investigator: Prof Phoebe Phillips
Institute: The University of New South Wales
Repurposing FDA/TGA-approved PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab to enhance immunotherapy outcomes in pancreatic cancer.
Principal Investigator: Prof Paul Timpson and Dr Brooke Pereira
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
2020 Collaboration Grants
Reprogramming the tumour microenvironment of pancreatic cancer to improve response to therapy
Principal Investigator: Dr Ashleigh Poh
Institute: Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute
Accelerating the uptake of precision medicine in pancreatic cancer using endoscopic ultrasound biopsy.
Principal Investigator: Dr Daniel Croagh
Institute: Monash University
A sequential CRISPR approach to rationally design robust combination treatments in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Prof Frederic Hollande
Institute: The University of Melbourne
Understanding pancreatic cancer nerve invasion through investigation of the tumour microenvironment to improve patient's pain and disease treatment
Principal Investigator: Dr Katia Nones
Institute: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Development of personalised treatment pathways for pancreatic cancer patients
Principal Investigator: Dr Sumit Sahni
Institute: The University of Sydney
2020 Early Detection Initiative Grants
Development of a novel clinical screening tool in people with diabetes and chronic pancreatitis for the early detection of pancreatic cancer.
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Andrew Metz
Institute: Epworth HealthCare
Pancreatic Cancer Early Diagnosis Group - detecting pancreatic cancer earlier before symptoms develop.
Principal Investigator: Prof Rachel Neale
Institute: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
2020 Partnered Research Projects
PRoCESS - Pancreatic Cancer Relatives Counseling and Education Support Service trial
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Vanessa Beesley
Institute: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Development of new radioimmunotherapy agent to selectively target and kill pancreatic cancer cells
Principal Investigator: Prof Eva Bezak
Institute: University of South Australia
A novel agent for imaging and treatment of pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Prof John Hooper
Institute: The University of Queensland
Surgical removal of non-metastatic pancreatic cancer – a comparison of European vs Australian practice
Principal Investigator: Prof John Zalcberg
Institute: Monash University
Next steps in harnessing a novel 'tuneable' immune checkpoint to enhance the immunogenicity of anti-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Shane Grey
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Developing new immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Dr Tatyana Chtanova
Institute: The University of New South Wales
Development of a non-invasive method of early detection for pancreatic cancer patients using nanotechnology
Principal Investigator: Dr Ying Zhu
Institute: University of New South Wales
Dual targeting of metabolic and immunological aberrations in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Dr David Herrmann
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Starvation of pancreatic tumours by metabolically reprogramming both tumour and stromal cells
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Phoebe Phillips
Institute: The University of New South Wales
2017 Accelerator Grants
Pathway to a novel treatment for pancreatic cancer – targeting the microenvironment (stroma)
Principal Investigator: Prof Minoti Apte
Institute: University of New South Wales
Seeing is believing: Mapping and targeting the extracellular matrix in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Paul Timpson and Dr Thomas Cox
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
2017 Innovation Grants
Therapeutic targeting of the potent metastasis suppressor, NDRG1, in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Dr Zaklina Kovacevic
Institute: University of Sydney
A novel theranostic for pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Prof John Hooper
Institute: University of Queensland
Harnessing a novel ‘tunable’ immune check point to enhance the immunogenicity of anti-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Shane Grey
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
A novel translational pipeline for the introduction of new immune-based therapies targeting localised and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Principal Investigator: Prof Brendan Jenkins
Institute: Hudson Institute of Medical Research
2016 Accelerator Grants
A novel therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer: Implications for therapy and diagnosis
Principal Investigator: Prof Marco Falasca
Institute: Curtin University
The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Organoid Biobank
Principal Investigator: Prof Sean Grimmond
Institute: University of Melbourne
2016 Innovation Grants
Therapeutically targeting a solute carrier transporter in the stroma of pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: A/Prof Phoebe Phillips
Institute: University of New South Wales
Development of novel agents that target P-glycoprotein resistant pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Prof Des Richardson
Institute: University of Sydney
A novel therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer: Implications for therapy and diagnosis
Principal Investigator: Dr Helge Rasmussen
Institute: University of Sydney
Utilising a novel predictor to stratify patients with therapy-resistant pancreatic cancer for treatment with CHK inhibitor drugs to improve responses and outcomes
Principal Investigator: Dr Petranel Ferrao
Institute: University of Melbourne
2015 Research Funding
PanKind Surgical Workshop
Workshop Lead: Professor David Goldstein
Convenor: AGITG
2015 Accelerator Grants
The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome InitiativePrincipal Investigator: Prof Anthony Gill
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
A new therapy for pancreatic cancer that improves tumour microenvironment and immune cell penetration
Principal Investigator: Prof Jennifer Gamble & Prof Mathew Vadas
Institute: Centenary Institute
2015 Innovation Grants
Circulating stromal cells (pancreatic stellate cells) and tumour cells in pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Prof Minoti Apte
Institute: University of New South Wales
Immunology and anti-invasive treatments for pancreatic cancer: A new therapeutic partnership
Principal Investigator: Dr Marina Pajic
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Harnessing the power within to conquer pancreatic cancer
Principal Investigator: Dr Emily Colvin
Institute: University of Sydney
Elucidating the mechanism by which MutY-Homolog knockdown kills pancreatic cancer cells
Principal Investigator: Dr George Sharbeen
Institute: University of New South Wales
2013 Research Funding
PanKind National Research Strategy Development
Outcomes: Invest in basic and clinical research to improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
PhD Scholarship
Jeremy Humphris
Institute: Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Pankind offers a range of competitive and strategic funding opportunities throughout the year, ensuring researchers have access to the resources needed to accelerate scientific advancements.
Our research impact
$3m
invested in research grants this year, our largest ever
$23m
invested in pancreatic cancer research since 2008
[XX]
research projects funded at [XX] universities and institutions
Pankind patient and carer resources
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