Did you know? 

  • Pancreatic cancer is diagnosed in more than 60,000 Americans each year and the number continues to rise.

  • Pancreatic cancer affects individuals across all races and ethnicities. However, it can be more common and aggressive and lead to a poorer prognosis in Blacks. Some studies support obesity as a contributor to these observations. 

  • The State of Florida ranks second in the United States in the number of lives lost to pancreatic cancer each year. The burden of pancreatic cancer is also high in Mississippi, especially among Blacks. Mississippi has the highest adult obesity rate among Blacks, at 46%, and the rate in Florida is 37%.

What is the Florida Pancreas Collaborative? 

  • The Florida Pancreas Collaborative (FPC) is a partnership between researchers, doctors, patients and families from institutions throughout Florida and Mississippi. (Figure 1). 

  • The FPC is dedicated to advancing pancreatic cancer and obesity research, with the hope of finding better ways to detect and treat pancreatic cancer, improve quality of life, and minimize disparities.

  • We were able to develop the first statewide 'biobank' for pancreatic tumors. A biobank is a valuable resource for collecting and storing data, biological specimens and medical images.

  • We are now using this biobank  to make advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic tumors and help personalize care.

Figure 1. Participating Sites in the Florida Pancreas Collaborative

 

The Florida Pancreas Collaborative Team 

Information about the Florida Pancreas Collaborative (FPC) team is currently under development. Please check back soon for details!