On April 27th I'm participating in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's (PanCAN) PurpleStride Raleigh-Durham. Please consider supporting our team, UNC’s Running RAScals.

PurpleStride is the #1-way PanCAN raises money to fight pancreatic cancer. PanCAN will use your donation to make progress toward its mission to improve lives for patients and change the future of this disease. These funds will contribute to PanCAN’s initiatives to advance scientific research and advocate for increased federal research funding. I believe in PanCAN’s mission, and I appreciate their multi-faceted approach to change the trajectory for future pancreatic cancer patients.  

My group has been fortunate to receive significant support from PanCAN. They provided me with a transformational grant when I was a postdoc that not only funded my final postdoctoral years, but then also transitioned with me when I established my own independent laboratory. This funding allowed us to collect the preliminary data necessary for an even larger grant from the National Cancer Institute that in turn allowed us to further elevate our science and grow into the group that we are today. Additionally, I am also currently involved in a Working Group that PanCAN brought together to study one of the most important cancer driving pathways in pancreatic cancer, the RAS pathway. My laboratory is very focused on studying this pathway, but two heads are better than one, and multiple heads are even better. I am really excited about the work that this collaborative group will be able to accomplish and am honored to be a part of it.

When I write to all of you each year it is nice to reflect upon the progress I have made in doing my part to make a difference for pancreatic cancer patients. Eleven years ago, when we first lost my dad, I wasn’t even sure if I could stomach the idea of thinking about this topic every day. Now, I am a recognized member of the pancreatic cancer field, publishing impactful studies, and perhaps most importantly, assembling a team of other talented, dedicated researchers to tackle these hard problems with me.

With each new milestone, I am reminded of how proud my dad was of my pursuit of a PhD. I know that he would have loved to experience this journey with me, and it greatly saddens me that he could not. But I know that he is watching my work. 

This year will be my eleventh year as a PurpleStride team captain leading a team of pancreatic cancer researchers and clinicians. Last year we raised over $10,600, bringing our total raised to over $115,000 to support pancreatic cancer research. I know that some of you have been on this journey with me since day one, and I would just like to say how grateful I am for your support and how certain I am that we are making a difference that my dad would be proud of.

Sincerely,

Kirsten