Welcome to the 10th Annual Agi Hirshberg Symposium on Pancreatic Cancer. This year's program is held in collaboration with the UCLA Center for Pancreatic Disease and is focused on patient and family support. The scientific research program celebrating the 10th anniversary of the seed grant program was held at the annual meeting of the American Pancreatic Association in Miami, Florida on November 2, 2013. The proceedings of the program were recorded and are available at www.pancreatic.org. The scientific highlights will be published in the journal Pancreas and will be openly accessible at www.journals.lww.com/pancreasjournal in March 2014. During the celebration, which attracted over 400 participants from over 20 countries, Ms. Agi Hirshberg was awarded the APA Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her vision, leadership, and stewardship in pancreatic cancer research.
During the last 10 years, we have made major advances in the management of pancreatic cancer. Among these advances are the following:
• Identification of high risk individuals to be screened.
• Improved imaging modalities
• Increased diagnoses of locally and resectable tumors to 20% with a 5 year survival of 25-35%
• Development of targeted chemotherapy and prevention
Over 30 major research institutions supported by the Foundation's seed grant program in the US and overseas have contributed to these advances.
Pancreatic cancer deaths are projected to continue rising from the 4th to the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in the US by 2020. Projections estimate that pancreatic cancer deaths will double by 2030. In spite of this, the National Cancer Institute dedicated less than 2% of its over $5 billion budget to pancreatic cancer in 2013. Your dedication and contribution to foundations such as the Hirshberg Foundation that support pancreatic cancer research is extremely valuable in the continued fight against this disease. Ms. Agi Hirshberg has charged the Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board to continue our work. Please stay connected to our mission.
