Lustgarten Foundation Honors Leaders in Pancreatic Cancer Research

The Foundation presented the Hope Through Scientific Leadership Award to Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee of Johns Hopkins Medicine for her role in shaping the organization’s clinical program. Dr. Eileen M. O'Reilly of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center received the Hope Through Compassion Award, while the biotech firm Erasca was honored with the Hope Through Science Award for its work on RAS/MAPK-driven cancers. These accolades underscore the foundation’s nearly three-decade commitment to high-risk, high-reward research.

Since its inception, the Lustgarten Foundation has directed $333 million toward 386 research projects, focusing on early detection and personalized medicine. The event served as a platform to address the urgency of the field, as pancreatic cancer remains a leading cause of mortality in the United States. With over 185 Americans diagnosed daily, the foundation emphasizes the necessity of sustained investment to navigate current funding volatility and institutional strain. Dr. David Tuveson, the foundation’s chief scientist, noted that the next phase of progress depends on uniting researchers and industry partners to develop effective combination therapies that move beyond existing treatment limitations.