The first public lecture of 2019 at Van Andel Institute, A Focus on Pancreatic Cancer, from Foundations to Early Detection was held on March 12. Attendees learned why basic research is fundamental in scientists’ quest to discover more effective ways to detect and treat diseases like pancreatic cancer. They heard the latest news about a promising blood test that could help identify this aggressive disease much sooner than currently possible.
Pancreatic cancer poses a particular challenge to physicians and patients because it often doesn’t have obvious early symptoms. By the time the disease is found, it is typically quite advanced, complicating treatment and leading to poorer patient outcomes.
A Focus on Pancreatic Cancer highlighted new advances in disease detection and provided guests with an understanding of how laboratory research is changing our understanding of cancer.