UH Cancer Center Receives $3.4M to Improve Pancreatic Cancer Risk

The University of Hawaii (UH) Cancer Center received a $3.4 million grant from the National Cancer Institute for a new study that aims to improve risk prediction and prevention of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in Hawaii, with an average of 201 deaths each year. The illness also disproportionately affects Native Hawaiians.

“We’ve made progress in understanding pancreatic cancer, but current risk prediction models are not as effective as they could be,” Associate Professor Lang Wu said.

“This study will help improve our knowledge of its causes and identify high-risk groups to enhance screening and prevention efforts. This research has the potential to make a real difference.”

Wu leads the research that will focus on uncovering the biological causes of pancreatic cancer and developing new tools to predict individual risk. The research collaborates with experts nationwide to tackle critical gaps in pancreatic cancer research.

Pancreatic cancer is often undetected until its later stages, and this contributes to its high mortality rate. Moreover, Hawaii has an average of 251 cases annually, with Native Hawaiians seeing higher rates of both cases and mortality rates than other groups in the state.

“By better understanding the disease, we can work toward more effective prevention strategies,” Wu said.