Pancreatic cancer ‘risk score’ research supported by charity fund

Southampton research to improve the prediction of pancreatic cancer has been boosted by a new charitable funding partnership.

The studies will be supported over the next three years by a specialist fund from Southampton Hospitals Charity.

Researchers aim to produce a ‘risk score’ that will help identify and screen people at risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Kelvin Davis, fund patron and former Southampton Football Club goalkeeper, has welcomed the first major new funding initiative since the peak of the pandemic.

Importance of early diagnosis

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose in its early stages because of its position and relatively low occurrence in the population.

Unlike many other forms of cancer, detection and cure rates have not improved in the last 40 years.

The Liver and Pancreatic Cancer Research & Development (LAPR&D) Fund is trying to improve the life chances of those who contract the disease. This has triggered investment in the world-leading research programme based at University Hospital Southampton.

Dr William Tapper, Associate Professor in Genomic Informatics at the University of Southampton and project lead, said:

“Pancreatic cancer remains a stubbornly difficult cancer to treat and as with many cancers, early detection is crucial to improving patient outcomes.

“Often detection comes too late and survival rates remain low compared to other forms of cancer. We are in the fortunate position of having access to the UK BioBank which retains samples that we can utilise to speed the research.”

A risk score for screening

A change of pancreatic function is mainly associated with vague abdominal symptoms and deranged blood sugar. Therefore, further innovative technologies are needed to support early detection.

The Southampton research will drive studies that will produce a risk score for groups of people. This should help identify people who will benefit from screening without major financial impact on the public health system.

The project has attracted £35,000 of LAPR&D funding. It is supported by Professor Andrew Collins and Dr Zaed Hamady.

The investment will be used, along with other secured funds, to employ a full-time PhD student. Recruitment is underway to identify a suitable appointee.

Kelvin Davis, LAPR&D Patron, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this research. The past 18 months have been very difficult for the charity sector generally to run events and raise funds and we are no exception. It is therefore particularly pleasing to get underway again with our first major new funding initiative on such an important cause.”