Newsroom

Newsroom

• 15 January 2025

  Save the date: PANCAID’s Stakeholder Dialogue Event

  We’re excited to announce the Save-the-Date for PANCAID’s first Stakeholder Dialogue Event!
  When? 15th January 2025
  Where? Brussels, Belgium
  This event is a collaboration between PANCAID, Pancreatic Cancer Europe (PCE), and United European Gastroenterology (UEG)!

  

• 19 January 2024

  PANCAID’s 2024 in Review: A Year of Impact and Progress

  As the year comes to a close, let’s take a moment to reflect on our achievements of 2024. This year has been one of progress, collaboration, and impactful work in the journey against pancreatic cancer. Here are some of the highlights:

  Four Scientific Review Articles Published

  PANCAID published four comprehensive review articles in renowned journals, covering topics:

  • The potential of multibiomarker panels in liquid biopsies for early pancreatic cancer detection.
  • The importance of economic evaluations in pancreatic cancer screening.
  • Insights from screening high-risk populations and how this informs approaches for the general population.
  • The role of incidental findings in pancreatic cancer diagnosis and how liquid biopsy could revolutionize the field.

  Our Video Series: Raising Awareness

  We launched a video series to make complex information about pancreatic cancer and the project accessible to a broader audience. From explaining “What is pancreatic cancer?” to discussing Liquid Biopsy, these videos are to help spread awareness about this challenging disease.

  Collaborative Efforts

  2024 was also a year of collaboration. From exploring opportunities for joint dissemination activities with other Horizon Europe projects to everyday collaboration with our partners, these partnerships strengthen our mission and amplify the impact of our work.

  As we look ahead to 2025, we are filled with gratitude for the support and engagement of our community, partners, and followers. Together, we are making strides toward a future where pancreatic cancer can be detected earlier and treated more effectively. PANCAID wishes each and everyone a wonderful holiday season and a successful start to the new year.

• 10 December 2024

  New PANCAID Video: What Is Pancreatic Cancer?

  We released of the fourth video in our PANCAID series, answering the question “What is Pancreatic Cancer?”

  In this informative video, PANCAID coordinators Prof. Klaus Pantel (UKE) and Prof. Matthias Löhr (KI) provide a clear understanding of pancreatic cancer, its impact, and the importance of early detection. It’s part of our ongoing effort to raise awareness about this challenging disease and the crucial role of research in improving outcomes.

  Pancreatic cancer often goes unnoticed until it’s too late, but through initiatives like PANCAID, we strive to change that narrative. This video is suitable for everyone, from general audiences to medical professionals, offering essential insights into why advancing detection methods is so important.

  Help us spread the word about pancreatic cancer awareness by sharing this video within your network. Together, we can make a difference.
• 6 December 2024

  PANCAID is Now on Bluesky

  Exciting news! PANCAID has officially joined the social media platform Bluesky, a fresh and dynamic space for connecting and sharing ideas.

  By expanding our digital presence, we aim to reach more individuals passionate about early cancer detection and cutting-edge research in pancreatic cancer. Whether you’re a researcher, patient advocate, or simply curious about our work, Bluesky offers a new way to stay informed and engaged.

  Follow us @pancaid.bsky.social or https://bsky.app/profile/pancaid.bsky.social for updates, insights, and conversations about how we’re advancing this research field.

  Not on Bluesky? You can also connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter / X, or Instagram.

• 21 November 2024

  World Pancreatic Cancer Day

  On this World Pancreatic Cancer Day, PANCAID members engaged in a variety of events!

  • UKE hosted an event “Hello Pankreas!” at the UKE in Hamburg, Germany
  • KI hosted the Pancreatic Cancer Congress, Karolinska Institutet (PanCKI) in Stockholm, Sweden
  • PCE attended the European Cancer Summit in Brussels, Belgium

  

  

  

  

• 11 November 2024

  Second Cancer Cluster Newsletter

  The “Prevention and Early Detection (Screening)” cluster just released its second newsletter!
  Over 2.7 million people in the EU-27 are diagnosed with cancer every year, with 1.3 million dying from the disease annually. European Commission launched Mission on Cancer of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, as part of the EU missions. The Mission is focused on intensifying research and innovation efforts to understand cancer risk factors better and improve screening programmes, diagnosis, therapies, treatments, and prevention policies. A collaboration of seven EU-funded research projects DIOPTRA, LUCIA, MammoScreen, ONCOSCREEN, PANCAID, and SANGUINE, form the EU Mission on Cancer‘s Prevention and Early Detection (Screening) cluster with the focus on unlocking the potential of new tools and digital solutions for a healthy society.
  Happy reading.

  Prevention and Early Detection (Screening) cluster newsletter issue 2Download

• 24 October 2024

  Bridging Science and Patient Voices. An interview with Pancreatic Cancer Europe (PCE)

  We talked with Maria Luisa Pagano and Lucia Colonna, two representatives from Pancreatic Cancer Europe (PCE), to explore their mission in uniting experts and advocates to improve outcomes for people affected by pancreatic cancer. 🎗️
  Learn about:
  ➡️ Who PCE is and their vital role in PANCAID
  ➡️ How they integrate patient voices into research
  ➡️ Ensuring PANCAID’s findings benefit those impacted by this disease.

  Watch the full interview and learn how PCE is driving change in pancreatic cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment across Europe.

  Watch here: https://youtu.be/k7dDDH7SNO0

• 30 September 2024

  PANCAID in the news!

  Melania Rizzoli, reporter at Italian newspaper il Giornale, wrote a piece titled Tumore al pancreas: il nemico silenzioso (English: Pancreatic Cancer: the Silent Enemy) and featured both PANCAIM and PANCAID!

  Read the full article here (Italian only): https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/tumore-pancreas-nemico-silenzioso-2374578.html

• 9 September 2024

  Fresh Off the Press: PANCAID’s Latest Research Paper

  Publication alert! 📣
  Pancreatic incidentaloma: incidental findings from history towards the era of liquid biopsy.
  The authors, Matthias Löhr (KI), Miroslav Vujasinovic, Nikolaos Kartalis, and Philipp Osten discuss:
  ✨ most common diagnostic methods
  ✨ impact of medical imaging
  ✨ ethical perspectives of screening
  
  Open access 🔓 https://egastroenterology.bmj.com/content/2/3/e100082

• 2 September 2024

  New PANCAID publication!

  Kim-Lea Reese, Prof. Dr. Klaus Pantel and Dr. Dr. Daniel Smit, all members of partner UKE working on Work Package 2 (WP2), have published a review article! This paper, published in Journal of Experimental &
  Clinical Cancer Research, provides overview of different liquid biopsy biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and discuss the validity of multimarker panels.

  Single biomarkers discussed include cellular biomarkers, circulating nucleic acids, proteins, and extracellular vesicles. The article is enriched with an extensive section about the current findings on multimarker panels.

  Read the full article here 🔓: https://jeccr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13046-024-03166-w

• 17 August 2024

  New PANCAID publication!

  Robert Wittram, Prof. Dr. Hans-Helmut König and Dr. Christian Brettschneider, all members of partner UKE working on Work Package 4 (WP4), have published a new study protocol! This paper, published in renowned BMJ Open, provides a protocol for a systematic review of studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness or costs of screening interventions in pancreatic cancer.

  Strengths and limitations of the study

  • This protocol increases transparency regarding the methods applied in a systematic review of economic evaluations of pancreatic cancer screening.
  • The protocol is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines.
  • The search strategy was developed in collaboration with a librarian and uses a validated search filter.
  • Heterogeneity in study methodology and inconsistency in study quality may limit the results of the systematic review.
  • The review will only include studies written in English, which will cause language bias.

  Read the full article here 🔓: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/8/e087003

  The aim of the systematic review (yet to come) will be studying the following research question: how have early detection strategies for pancreatic cancer been economically evaluated?

• 17 July 2024

  PANCAID Masterclass

  📺 The first PANCAID masterclass is now live! Deepen your understanding of the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by exploring its genetic road in the lecture “molecular pathophysiology of PDAC” by Francisco X. “Paco” Real.

  What are the key mutations and signalling pathways implicated in tumor initiation and progression? The lecture answers these questions and discusses to PDAC subtypes and implications for early diagnosis. The masterclass rounds off by highlighting the importance and capabilities of using genetic mouse models.

  Francisco X. Real, MD, PhD, Senior Group Leader at CNIO – Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, and Professor of Cell Biology at Universtiat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, provided this lecture to PANCAID early career researchers during our 2^nd General Assembly earlier this year.
• 14 June 2024

  PANCAID participates in second Annual Meeting of the EU Mission Cancer Cluster “Prevention and early detection (Screening)”

  The second cluster meeting was organised an hosted by cluster member ONCOSCREEN in Rhodes, Greece and remote, where our coordinators Klaus Pantel and Matthias Löhr gave a presentation on PANCAID’s progress.

• 26 June 2024

  Article in Journal Onkologie

  Prof. Dr. Susanne Sebens (UKSH) and her team, consisting of Dr. rer. nat. Lisa-Marie Philipp, Annika Brauer, and Malte Carstensten, have written an article about the potential of Liquid Biopsy for the diagnosis and early detection of pancreatic cancer. Apart from great educational value, the article also features PANCAID!
  The article was published in German trade magazine Journal Onkologie in the category “continued education”.

  Read the full article (German only) here:

  Journal Onkologie_Fortbildung_Liquid_Biopsy_SebensDownload
• 10 June 2024

  PANCAID 4th Steering Committee Meeting

  Our fourth Steering Committee Meeting took place in Stockholm, Sweden, from 12 – 13 June 2024. All work package leaders gathered for a session full of discussions and progress from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday noon. Moreover, we had the pleasure of welcoming a guest speaker from the PANCAIM consortium, Dawid Ruthkowski, who presented on AI in imaging – new insights. The recording of this lecture is now available on PANCAID’s YouTube Channel! You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P46ctqmJvMI

  With many of our partner institutions nearby and our co-coordinator Matthias Löhr from Karolinska Institutet and Region Stockholm, it was the perfect location for this important meeting.

  

• 7 June 2024

  New videos sub page!

  We have a new sub page, all dedicated to our PANCAID videos. Check it out: https://pancaid-project.eu/for-patients-public/videos/

• 5 June 2024

  What is Liquid Biopsy? An interview with Prof. Catherine Alix-Panabières

  The biggest challenge in the management of pancreatic cancer is the inability to diagnose it in time. In PANCAID, we focus on the establishment of a blood test for early detection of PDAC via liquid biopsy. But what is liquid biopsy, exactly? Find out in this interview with PANCAID member Prof. Catherine Alix-Panabières, who is professor of cancerology at the University Hospital Center of Montpellier, France, Director of the Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells, and happens to have discovered the concept of liquid biopsy and circulating tumour cells in cancer patients together with Klaus Pantel in 2010.

  Watch the video on YouTube:

  

• 20. March 2024

  Discovering PANCAID: An Interview with the Project Coordinators Profs. Klaus Pantel & Matthias Löhr

  Join us for an insightful interview with the minds behind PANCAID, Profs. Klaus Pantel and Matthias Löhr, as they unveil the essence of the project. Meet the project coordinators, discover what PANCAID is and how we aim to propel early detection in pancreatic cancer. Gain insight into the project’s scope, and how it unites experts from various countries and fields. Explore PANCAID’s main output – a minimally invasive blood test to detect pancreatic cancer. Learn from the coordinators about the significance of this approach and how the project aims to achieve it by detecting tumor-related components in the bloodstream through liquid biopsy.

  Watch the interview on Youtube.
• 8 March 2024

  International Women’s Day

  Happy International Women’s Day! Today, we celebrate the women of the PANCAID consortium. From researchers, to technicians or project managers, their expertise and dedication are driving forward our mission to develop a minimally-invasive blood test for early detection of pancreatic cancer.

  

  

  

  

  

  

• 6 March 2024

  New publication:

  📣 Publication alert! Matthias Löhr, Daniel Öhlund, Emma Söreskog, Emil Andersson, Miroslav Vujasinovic, Niklas Zethraeus & Malin Sund just published a review on Pancreatic cancer screening challenges & limitations in journal Familial Cancer.

  Congrats ! 🙌

  Title: Can our experience with surveillance for inherited pancreatic cancer help to identify early pancreatic cancer in the general population?

  🔓 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-024-00363-6

• 27 February 2024

  PANCAID’s second newsletter is out!

  We’re thrilled to announce the release of PANCAID’s second newsletter! Dive into the latest updates and insights straight from the heart of our work.

  Missed it? We got you! Simply read it online.

  Want to stay informed on the project? Sign up to our newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/it4vC6

  

• 15 January 2024

  PANCAID: Second General Assembly Meeting

  PANCAID’s second General Assembly Meeting took place at our partner CNIO from 17 to 19 January 2024. During the first half day, the consortium first witnessed a masterclass given by esteemed Francisco X. Real, MD, PhD, Senior Group Leader at CNIO and current chair of the CNIO Scientific Committee on “the topic of “Molecular pathophysiology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)”. After this stellar lecture, PANCAID’s Early Career Scientists (ECS) each presented themselves as well as their work.

  On the second day, after a warm welcome by the project coordinator Klaus Pantel, co-coordinator Matthias Löhr as well as CNIO members Núria Malats and Héctor Peinado, the meeting commenced with updates on the diverse work packages, plenum discussions and presentation of our Scientific and Ethical Advisory Board (SEAB) members.

  The last day kicked off with a keynote lecture by Ellen Heitzer from our partner MUG on “Liquid biopsy in PDAC – Current status & implications for PANCAID”, followed by updates on the remaining work packages. The meeting was rounded off with valuable feedback from the SEABs and a final discussion led by the coordinators.

• 15 December 2023

  Prevention and Early Detection (Screening) cluster: Newsletter issue 01

  The first newsletter of the Prevention and Early Detection (Screening) cluster, which PANCAID is a proud part of, is now out. Learn more about the individual members of the cluster, their achievements in 2023 and their goals for 2024. Find out more about our synergistic approach here.

  Read the newsletter (PDF) here:

  Prevention and Early Detection_Newsletter_issue 1Download
• 13 December 2023

  🌟 Season’s Greetings from PANCAID 🌟

  As the year draws to a close, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our amazing project partners for their dedication and hard work. Together, we’ve achieved incredible milestones in this first project year.

  To our partners and the broader community, we wish you a joyous holiday season filled with warmth and happiness. May the upcoming year bring shared success and prosperity.

  Happy Holidays to all!

  Warm regards,
  PANCAID

• 14 November 2023

  World Pancreatic Cancer Day

  Today, 14^th November, marks a significant day globally — World Pancreatic Cancer Day. It’s a day initiated by the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition and dedicated to raising awareness about pancreatic cancer, an illness often diagnosed in its advanced stages and known for its low survival rates.

  Key Facts:

  1. Silent Threat: Pancreatic cancer is often called a “silent” disease because its symptoms can be subtle and easily attributed to other causes. This underscores the importance of paying attention to one’s body and seeking medical attention for persistent or unusual symptoms.
  2. Low Survival Rates: Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates among major cancers. This emphasizes the urgency of early detection and underscores the need for continued research to develop more effective treatment strategies.
  3. Risk Factors: Understanding the risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer, such as family history, smoking, and certain genetic conditions, is crucial. Lifestyle changes and regular health check-ups can contribute to early intervention.

  We aim to take on the the biggest challenge in the clinical management of pancreatic cancer: the current inability to diagnose it in time. Read more on our research approach here.

  

• 31 August 2023

  PANCAID Newsletter – Summer 2023

  🚀Our first newsletter just hit inboxes! 📨
  Missed it? We got you! Simply read it online.

  Subscribe to our mailing list to receive up-to-date information on what’s happening at PANCAID!
  ➡ http://eepurl.com/it4vC6

• 01 August 2023

  World RNA Day

  Today is World RNA Day. A day to celebrate the versatility of ribonucleic acid (RNA).

  RNA, especially microRNA, also plays an important role in our research: Part of PANCAID work package 2 is profiling multi-omics data, where we analyse genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, microRNA and metabolomic data from patients with pancreatic cancer and individuals at risk.

  Read more about RNA Day:  https://blog.westminster.ac.uk/difference/why-is-august-1st-rna-day

• 14 October 2023

  Save the date: UEG week

  United European Gastroenterology (UEG) will host UEG Week, a must-visit congress for gastroenterology. From 14 – 17 October 2023, UEG Week will take place both in-person in Copenhagen, Denmark and virtually. We’re especially excited, as PANCAID co-coordinator Prof. Matthias Löhr (KI), will give the introductory lecture during the session “Autoimmune pancreatitis: The story continues” (14 October, 13:30 – 15:00). Additionally, he will chair the session “Update on chronic pancreatitis: How to diagnose and how to treat?” (15 October, 15:30 – 16:30).

  More info: https://ueg.eu/week

• 22 June 2023, ONLINE

  PANCAID 2nd Steering Committee Meeting

  Our second Steering Committee Meeting took place in a virtual format on 22 June 2023. During the meeting, work package leaders presented and discussed the overall status of their respective work package. With fruitful discussions, the consortium solidified the path for the coming months.

• 21 February 2023

  First press release published

  We are delighted to share the first press release, introducing PANCAID, an EU-funded project to develop a blood test for early detection of pancreatic cancer to the wider public.

  Read the full press release here.

  View other press releases here.

• 12 – 14 February 2023, Hamburg, Germany

  PANCAID Kick-Off Meeting

  PANCAID comprises 17 partners from eight countries (Germany, Sweden, Spain, Austria, Belgium, France, Israel, and the United Kingdom), as part of the Horizon Europe programme and EU Mission: Cancer.

  The project, as well as funding by the EC started on 1 January 2023. The involved scientists kicked off the project from 13 to 15 February in Hamburg, Germany.