The pancreas is positioned between the spine and stomach and closely surrounded by other organs, making clear screening and testing nearly impossible. Pancreatic cancer often is undetected until late in the disease process because it displays no overt symptoms early on.

Together with Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), the research team has started a five-year study around the use of microRNA in blood that could profoundly transform early detection of pancreatic cancer by creating a non-invasive, rapid, accurate and inexpensive test. “Early detection of this disease is essential to reducing its mortality rate,” said Ajay Goel, Ph.D., BSWRI’s director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Research, and the Center for Epigenetics, Cancer Prevention and Cancer Genomics, and the study’s principal investigator. BSWRI received a $5.13 million federal grant from the NIH to continue its work to develop an early detection system for pancreatic cancer, the nation’s third-leading cause of cancer-related death.Īs more efforts than ever are focused on finding cures to some of the deadliest forms of cancer, BSWRI is also pushing the limits for what is presently available in terms of early detection methods.

Baylor Scott & White Research Institute (BSWRI) unveiled its latest endeavor aimed at taking the fight against pancreatic cancer to a new level.

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